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University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


• 


KIT    CARSON'S 

LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES, 

FROM  FACTS  NARRATED  BY  HIMSELF, 

EMBRACING    EVENTS    IN    THE    LIFE-TIME    OF    AMERICA'S 

GREATEST  HUNTER,  TRAPPER,  SCOUT  AND  GUIDE, 

INCLUDING 

VIVID     ACCOUNTS    OF    THE     EVERY     DAT    LIFE,     INNER     CHARACTER,     AND 
PECULIAR    CUSTOMS   OF   ALL 


INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  THE  FAR  WEST. 

ALSO,   AN  ACCURATE 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  COUNTRY, 

ITS    CONDITION,   PROSPECTS,    AND    RESOURCES;    ITS    CLIMATE    AND  SCENERY;   ITS 

MOUNTAINS,  RIVERS,  VALLEYS,  DESERTS  AND  PLAINS,  AND  NATURAL  WONDERS. 

TOGETHER  WITH  A  FULL  AND  COMPLETE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

MODOC  INDIANS  AND   THE    MODOC   ¥AB. 


BY 

DEWITT    C.     PETEKS, 

BBEVET  LT.-COLONEL  AMD  SURGEON  U.  S.  A. 


HARTFORD,    CONN.: 
AUSTIN,     GMLMA3ST     <fc     CO. 

QUEEN  CITY  PUBLISHING  CO.,  CINCINNATI ;   M.  A.  PARKER  &  CO.,  CHICAGO, 
ILL. ;  FRANCIS  DEWING  &  CO.,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 

1874. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1873,  by 

DUSTIN,  GILMAN  &  CO., 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


TO  THOSE  NOBLE  MEN, 

WHO    WERE     THE     COMPANIONS     OF 

Kit  ®a#sxxt*; 

IN    THE     WILD     SCENES     OF     THE     CHASE, 

ON  THE  WAR  PATH, 

UPON  THE  FIELD   OF  BATTLE, 

AND  DURING  THE  TERRIBLE  HARDSHIPS 

OF  THE 

LONG,    DANGEROUS    AND    WEARY    EXPLORATIONS, 
IN   A  NEW  AND   DESOLATE   COUNTRY, 

THIS    BOOK 


BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


TAGS,  NEW  MEXICO. 

THIS  is  to  certify,  that  my  friend,  De  Witt  C.  Peters, 
Brevet  Lieutenant  -  Colonel  and  Surgeon,  United  States 
Army,  is  the  only  person  I  ever  authorized  to  write  my 
life. 


Brigadier  General  V.  $.   Vols. 


FERNANDEZ  DE  TAGS,  NEW  MEXICO. 

WE,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  the  Territory  of  New 
Mexico,  were  acquainted  with  Mr.  CHRISTOPHER  CARSON,  almost 
from  the  time  of  his  first  arrival  in  the  country.  We  were 
his  companions  both  in  the  mountains  and  as  private  citizens. 
We  are  also  acquainted  with  the  fact,  that  for  months,  during 
his  leisure  hours,  he  was  engaged  dictating  his  life.  This  is, 
to  our  certain  knowledge,  the  only  authentic  biography  of  him- 
self and  his  travels,  that  has  ever  been  written.  We  heartily 
recommend  THIS  BOOK  to  the  reading  community  for  perusal, 
as  it  presents  a  life  out  of  the  usual  routine  of  business,  and 
is  checkered  with  adventures  which  have  tried  this  bold  and 
daring  man.  We  are  cognizant  of  the  details  of  the  book, 
and  vouch  for  their  accuracy. 

Very  respectfully, 


THE  AUTHOR'S  PBEFACE. 


THE  pages  here  presented  to  the  public  form  a  book  of 
facts.  They  unfold  for  the  student,  as  does  no  other  work 
yet  extant,  the  great  interior  wilderness  of  the  Territories  be- 
longing to  the  United  States.  The  scenic  views,  though 
plainly  colored  and  wrought  by  the  hand  of  an  unpretending 
artist,  inasmuch  as  they  portray  a  part  of  the  North  American 
continent  which  is  unsurpassed  by  any  other  country  on  the 
face  of  the  earth,  will  not  fail  to  interest  the  American  pub- 
lic. In  addition  to  this,  the  reader  is  introduced  to  an  inti- 
mate acquaintance  with  the  Indian  races  of  the  countries 
which  lie  east  and  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  savage 
warrior  and  hunter  is  presented,  stripped  of  all  the  deco- 
rations with  which  writers  of  fiction  have  dressed  him.  He 
is  seen  in  his  ferocity  and  gentleness,  in  his  rascality  and 
nobility,  in  his  boyhood,  manhood,  and  old  age,  and  in  his 
wisdom  and  ignorance.  The  attentive  reader  will  learn  of 
his  approximations  to  truth,  his  bundle  of  superstitions,  his 
acts  at  home  and  on  -  the  war-path,  his  success  while  follow- 
ing the  buffalo,  and  engaging  the  wild  Rocky  Mountain  bear, 
that  terror  of  the  western  wilderness.  He  will  also  behold 
him  carrying  devastation  to  the  homes  of  the  New  Mexican 
settlers,  and  freely  spilling  their  best  blood  to  satiate  a  savage 
revenge.  He  will  see  him  attacking  and  massacring  parties 
of  white  men  traveling  across  the  prairies,  and  trace  him  in 
his  savage  wars  with  the  early  settlers  and  frontiersmen. 

In  order  to  acquire  these  important  data,  that  they  might 
be  added  to  the  pages  of  American  history  and  form  a  reli- 


viii  THE  AUTHOE'S  PREFACE. 


able  record,  it  was  necessary  that  some  brave,  bold  and  deter- 
mined man  should  become  an  actor  on  the  scenes  and  among 
the  races  described.  Such  an  actor  has  been  Christopher  Car- 
son, the  Nestor  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  ;  and,  it  is  the  expe- 
rience, as  well  as  the  acts  of  his  stirring  life,  which  the  fol- 
lowing pages  present. 

In  olden  times  there  existed,  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  a 
race  familiarly  known  by  the  name  of  "  Trappers  and  Hunt- 
ers." They  are  now  almost  extinct.  Their  history  has  not 
yet  been  written.  Pen  paintings,  drawn  from  the  imagina- 
tion, founded  upon  distant  views  of  their  exploits  and  adven- 
tures, have  occasionally  served,  as  do  legends,  to  "  adorn  a 
tale."  The  volume  now  offered  to  the  public,  gives  their 
history  as  related  by  one  whose  name,  as  a  trapper  and  hunter 
of  the  "  Far  West,"  stood  second  to  none ;  by  a  man  who, 
for  fifteen  years,  saw  not  the  face  of  a  white  woman,  or  slept 
under  a  roof;  who,  during  those  long  years,  with  his  rifle 
alone,  killed  thousands  upon  thousands  of  buffalo,  deer,  ante- 
lope, bears  and  elk,  wild  turkeys,  prairie  chickens,  etc.,  etc., 
in  numbers  beyond  calculation.  On  account  of  their  origi- 
nality, daring  and  interest,  the  real  facts  concerning  this  race 
of  trappers  and  hunters,  will  be  handed  down  to  posterity  as 
matters  belonging  to  history. 

As  is  the  case  with  the  Indian,  the  race  of  the  "  Simon 
Pure  Trapper  "  is  nearly  run.  The  advance  of  civilization, 
keeping  up  its  untiring  march  to  the  westward,  is  daily  en- 
croaching upon  their  wild  haunts,  and  bringing  the  day  close 
at  hand  when  warrior  and  trapper  will  depart  forever  to  their 
"  Happy  Hunting  Grounds." 

With  the  extinction  of  the  great  fur  companies,  the  trap- 
pers of  "  Olden  Time,"  disbanded  and  separated. 

The  greatest  number  of  these  men,  to  be  found  at  the  pres- 
ent day,  reside  in  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico,  which,  in  the 
time  of  their  prosperity,  was  the  country  where  they  located 
their  head-quarters.  In  this  Territory,  Christopher  Carson 
resided.  His  name,  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  has  been  famil- 
iarly known  for  nearly  half  a  century ;  and,  from  its  associa- 


Two  huge  and  terribly  angry  grizzly  bears  were  bounding  towards  him,  their  eyes 
flashing  fiery  passion,  their  pearly  teeth  glittering  with  eagerness  to  mangle  his  n'esh, 
and  their  monstrous  forearms,  hung  with  sharp,  bony  claws,  ready  and  anxious  to  hug 
his  body  in  a  close  and  most  loving  embrace. — PAGE  93. 


THE   AUTHOR  S    PREFACE.  ix 

tion  with  the  names  of  great  explorers  and  military  men,  is 
now  spread  throughout  the  civilized  world.  It  has  been  gen- 
erally conceded,  and  the  concession  has  become  strengthened 
by  time,  that  no  small  share  of  the  benefits  derived  from  these 
explorations  and  campaigns,  as  well  as  the  safety  of  the  com- 
mands themselves,  was  due  to  the  sagacity,  skill,  experience, 
advice  and  labor,  of  Christopher  Carson. 

His  sober  habits,  strict  honor,  and  great  regard  for  truth, 
endeared  him  to  all  who  called  him  friend ;  and,  among  such, 
may  be  enumerated  names  belonging  to  some  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men,  whose  deeds  are  recorded  on  the  pages  of 
American  history.  His  past  life  was  a  mystery  which  this 
book  will  unveil.  Instead  of  Kit  Carson  as  by  imagination — 
a  bold  braggart,  and  reckless,  improvident  hero  of  the  rifle — 
he  will  appear  a  retired  man,  arid  one  who  was  very  reserved 
in  his  intercourse  with  others. 

It  is  years  since  the  writer  of  this  work  first  met  Christo- 
pher Carson.  It  needed  neither  a  second  introduction,  nor 
the  assistance  of  a  friendly  panegyric,  to  enable  him  to  dis- 
cover in  Christopher  Carson  those  traits  of  manhood,  which 
are  esteemed  by  the  great  and  good  to  be  distinguishing 
ornaments  of  character.  This  acquaintance  ripened  into 
a  friendship  of  the  purest  stamp,  and  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  the  writer  was  the  intimate  friend  and  companion  of 
Carson,  at  his  home,  in  the  wild  scenes  of  the  chase,  on  the 
war  trail,  and  upon  the  field  of  battle.  For  a  long  period,  in 
common  with  hundreds,  and,  we  might  with  truth  add,  thou- 
sands, the  writer  desired  to  see  Christopher  Carson's  wonderful 
career  made  public  for  the  world  of  readers ;  but,  while  this 
idea  was  germinating  in  his  brain,  he  did  not,  for  an  instant, 
flatter  himself  that  the  pleasant  task  would  ever  be  assigned  to 
him.  Finally,  however,  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  many 
personal  friends,  Christopher  Carson  dictated  the  facts  upon 
which  this  book  is  written.  They  were  placed  in  the  writer's 
hands,  with  instructions  to  add  to  them  such  information  as 
had  fallen  under  his  observation,  during  a  long  and  intimate 
acquaintance  with  Kit  Carson,  and  during  extensive  travels 


X  THE   AUTHOli's    PREFACE. 

over  a  large  part  of  the  wide  expanse  of  country,  which  has 
been  Carson's  theatre  for  action. 

Owing  to  unfortunate  circumstances,  however,  the  work 
has  been  kept  out  of  the  market,  until  the  urgent  demands 
of  the  hundreds  of  admirers  of  the  world-renowned  "  Kit," 
for  an  authentic  history  of  his  life  and  adventures,  has  encour- 
aged the  author  to  place  the  work  before  the  public  in  its 
present  form. 

The  book  is  a  book  of  solid  truth ;  therefore,  the  faults  in 
the  style,  arrangement  and  composition,  become  affairs  of 
minor  consideration.  For  this  reason,  the  writer  makes  no 
apologies  to  embarrass  the  critics. 

Christopher  Carson,  physically,  was  small  in  stature,  but 
of  compact  frame-work.  He  had  a  large  and  finely  developed 
head,  a  twinkling  gray  eye,  and  hair  of  a  sandy  color,  which 
he  wore  combed  back  d  la  Franklin  mode.  His  education 
having  been  much  neglected  in  his  youth,  he  was  deficient  in 
theoretical  learning.  By  natural  abilities,  however,  he  greatty 
compensated  for  this  defect.  He  spoke  the  French  and  Span- 
ish languages  fluently,  besides  being  a  perfect  master  of  sev- 
eral Indian  dialects.  In  Indian  customs,  their  manners,  habits, 
and  the  groundwork  of  their  conduct,  no  man  on  the  Ameri- 
can continent  was  better  skilled. 

The  writer,  while  on  a  foreign  tour,  once  had  the  opportu- 
nity and  pleasure  of  hearing  Gordon  Gumming,  and  other 
hunters  of  less  note,  discourse  on  their  hunting  exploits ;  fur- 
thermore, in  our  own  country,  while  seated  around  camp- 
fires  and  in  log-houses,  he  has  listened  to  the  adventures  of 
ancient  and  modern  Nimrods  in  the  chase.  Besides  these 
facts,  he  has  both  seen  and  read  much  of  hunting  exploits ; 
but  no  hunter  ever  filled  his  fancy  so  perfectly  as  did  Christo- 
pher Carson,  a  man  who  was  always  quick  to  act  and  never 
known  to  boast.  Although  he  has  passed  to  the  Happy 
Hunting  Grrounds  of  eternity,  his  name  will  always  stand 
bright  in  the  annals  of  history,  as  one  that  has  contributed  in- 
no  small  degree  to  the  success  of  some  of  the  greatest  and 
most  successful  exploring  expeditions  known  to  the  world. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGB. 

Carson's  Birthplace — His  Emigration  to  Missouri — Early  Prospects 
— Is  an  Apprentice — Stories  of  the  Rocky  Mountains — He  Enlists 
to  go  there — Adventures  on  the  Prairies — Broader  is  Wounded — 
Carson's  Nerve  put  to  the  Test — Rude  Amputation — Safe  Arrival 
at  Santa  Fe — Goes  to  Taos  and  Learns  the  Spanish  Language — 
Early  Vicissitudes — Disappointment  and  Attempt  to  return  to  Mis- 
souri— Wants  a  Woolen  Shirt — Is  Employed  as  an  Interpreter, 
,  Teamster,  etc., 19 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  News  of  the  Defeat  of  Mr.  Young's  Trapping  Party  by  the  Indi- 
ans reaches  Taos — Young  raises  a  Tarty  to  Chastise  the  Indians — 
Kit  Carson  becomes  a  Conspicuous  Member  of  the  Expedition — 
The  Indians  are  found  on  Salt  River — The  Fight — Trapping  Ex- 
ploits— A  new  Country — Trials  and  Vicissitudes — Sacramento  Val- 
ley— California  and  its  Roman  Catholic  Missions  in  1829 — Another 
Indian  Fight — Sale  of  Furs — Indian  Depredations — Kit  Carson  and 
Twelve  Trappers  engage  with  the  Indians  in  a  Battle — Return  to 
the  Camp  with  recovered  Property, .36 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  Return  from  California  to  New  Mexico — San  Fernando  and  the 
Peublo  of  Los  Angelos — Description  of  these  Peublos — Passports 
demanded  at  Los  Angelos — Trouble  with  the  Mexican  Authorities 
— Kit  Carson  sent  on  with  the  Pack  Animals — One  Trapper  Shoots 
Another — The  Mexicans  Become  Frightened — Indians  come  into 
Camp  with  their  Weapons  Concealed — Cool  Reception  by  Kit  Car- 
son— Paying  off  Old  Scores — Recovering  Stolen  Property — Arrival 
at  Santa  Fe  and  Taos — Money  realized  soon  parted  with — Carson 
joins  another  Expedition — The  Rivers  trapped  on — Four  Men  Killed 
by  Blackfeet  Indians — Kit  Carson  joins  Gaunt's  Party— The  Parks 
— Winter  Quarters — Crow  Indian  Depredations — Kit  Carson  and 
his  Party  in  Pursuit — The  Fight— Winter  on  the  Arkansas— An- 
other Expedition — Two  Deserters— Kit  Carson  sent  in  Pursuit — 
The  Fate  of  the  Runaways — Adventures  with  Indians — Hair- 
breadth Escape  made  by  Kit  Carson, 48 


Xll  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

PAQK. 

Kit  Carson  and  two  Companions  plan  a  Hunt  for  themselves — The 
Great  Success  met  with — Return  to  Taos — Sale  of  the  Beaver 
Fur — Kit  Carson  joins  Captain  Lee  and  goes  on  a  Trading  Expe- 
dition— Winter  Quarters — Kit  Carson  is  sent  in  Pursuit  of  a  Thief 
— Overtakes  and  is  obliged  to  Shoot  the  Runaway — Property  Re- 
covered— The  Return  to  the  Camp — The  Sale  of  Goods — Kit  Car- 
son joins  Fitzpatrick  and  Party — Kit  Carson  organizes  a  Hunting 
Party — His  Encounter  with  two  Grizzly  Bears — The  Summer  Ren- 
dezvous— Kit  Carson  joins  fifty  Trappers  and  goes  to  the  Country 
of  the  Blackfeet  Indians — Annoyances  received  from  these  Indians 
— Winter  Quarters  in  1832 — Horses  Stolen — Kit  Carson  and  eleven 
Men  in  Pursuit  —  A  Parley  —  A  Fight  —  Kit  Carson  severely 
Wounded — His  great  Sufferings  and  Fortitude — His  Convales- 
cence— The  Retreat — A  New  Expedition — A  Braggadocio — Kit 
Carson  Fights  a  Duel  and  Wounds  his  Man — Duels  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  in  Olden  Times, 77 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Fall  Hunt — McCoy  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  organizes  a 
Trapping  Party  which  Kit  Carson  joins — The  Hunt — Scarcity  of 
Beaver  on  Humboldt  River — The  Party  is  divided — Kit  Carson 
with  a  majority  of  the  Men  goes  to  Fort  Hall — Hardships  and  Pri- 
vations met  with — Bleeding  Mules  and  Drinking  the  warm  Blood  to 
keep  from  Starving — Buffalo  Hunt — All  their  Animals  Stolen  in  the 
Night  by  a  Party  of  Blackfeet  Indians — Arrival  of  McCoy  from 
Fort  Walla  Walla — The  Rendezvous — Kit  Carson  joins  a  Strong 
Band— The  Small-Pox  among  the  Blackfeet  Indians— The  Crow 
Indians  on  good  terms  with  the  Whites — Intense  Cold — Immense 
Herds  of  Buffalo — Danger  of  their  Goring  the  Horses  to  Death — 
The  Spring  Hunt— The  Blackfeet  Indian  Village  Overtaken— A 
desperate  Fight  with  these  Indians — The  Rendezvous — Sir  Wil- 
liam Stuart  and  a  favorite  Missionary — Kit  Carson  goes  on  a 
Trading  Expedition  to  the  Navajo  Indians — The  Return — He  ac- 
cepts the  post  of  Hunter  of  the  Trading  Post  at  Brown's  Hole,  117 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Bridger  and  Carson  trapping  on  the  Black  Hills — The  Main  Camp— 
The  Rendezvous — Winter  Quarters  on  the  Yellow  Stone — Carson 
with  forty  men  in  a  Desperate  Fight  with  the  Blackfeet  Indians — A 
Council — Sentinel  Posted — One  Thousand  Warriors  come  to  Pun- 
ish the  Trappers— The  War  Dance— The  Courage  of  the  Savages, 
deserts  them — Winter  Quarters — The  Spring  Hunt — Another  Fight 
with  the  Blackfeet— Continued  Annoyances— The  Trappers  aban- 
don the  Country — Scenery  on  the  Columbia — The  Rocky  Moun- 
tains and  Alps  Compared— Other  Trapping  Expeditions— Beaver 
becoming  Scarce — Prices  of  Fur  Reduced — Kit  Carson  and  the 
Trappers  give  up  their  Vocation— The  Journey  to  Bent's  Fort- 
Mitchell  the  Mountaineer— His  Eccentricities, 143 


CONTENTS.  X1U 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PAOB. 

Kit  Carson  is  employed  as  Hunter  to  Bent's  Fort — His  Career  for 
Eight  Years — Messrs.  Bent  and  St.  Vrain — The  Commencement  of 
his  Acquaintance  with  John  C.  Fremont  on  a  Steamboat — Is  em- 
ployed as  a  Guide  by  the  Great  Explorer — The  Journey — Arrival 
at  Fort  Laramie — Indian  Difficulties — The  Business  of  the  Expedi- 
tion Completed — Return  to  Fort  Laramie — Kit  Carson  goes  to 
Taos  and  is  Married — He  is  employed  as  Hunter  to  a  Train  of 
Wagons  bound  for  the  States — Meeting  with  Captain  Cook  and 
four  Companies  of  U.  S.  Dragoons  on  Walnut  Creek — Mexicans 
in  Trouble— Kit  Carson  carries  a  Letter  for  Them  to  Santa  Fe — 
Indians  on  the  Route — His  safe  Arrival — Amijos'  Advance  Guard 
Massacred  by  the  Texans — The  one  Survivor — The  Retreat — Kit 
Carson  returns  to  Bent's  Fort — His  Adventures  with  the  Utahs 
and  Narrow  Escape  from  Death — The  Texans  Disarmed — The  Ex- 
press Ride  Performed, 167 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Kit  Carson  visits  Fremont's  Camp — Goes  on  the  Second  Exploring 
Expedition — The  Necessary  Arrangements — Trip  to  Salt  Lake — 
Explorations  There — Carson  is  dispatched  to  Fort  Hall  for  Sup- 

Slies — Their  Operations  at  Salt  Lake — The  Great  Island — The 
ourney  to  the  Columbia  River  in  Oregon — Incidents  on  the 
Route — Klamath  Lake — The  Journey  to  California — The  Trials 
and  Privations  met  with  while  crossing  the  Sierra  Nevada  Moun- 
tains— Mr.  Preuss  is  Lost  but  Finds  the  Party  again — Arrival  at 
Sutter's  Fort  in  a  Destitute  Condition — Two  of  the  Party  become 
Deranged — The  Route  on  the  Return  Trip — Mexicans  come  into 
their  Camp  asking  Aid  and  Protection — Indian  Depredations — 
Carson  and  Godey  start  on  a  Daring  Adventure — The  Pursuit — 
The  Thieves  Overtaken— These  Two  White  Men  attack  Thirty  In- 
dians— The  Victory— Horses  Retaken — The  Return  to  Camp — 
One  of  their  Companions  Killed — The  Journey  Continued — Ar- 
rival at  Bent's  Fort— The  "  Fourth  of  July"  Dinner,  ....  200 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Kit  Carson  concludes  to  become  a  Farmer — He  is  joined  in  the  En- 
terprise by  a  Friend — They  build  a  Ranch  on  the  Cimeron  River 
— Descriptions  of  Mexican  Customs  and  Country — Fremont  once 
more  at  Bent's  Fort — Express  sent  for  Kit  Carson  to  join  the  Ex- 
pedition as  Guide— The  Ranch  sold,  and  the  Departure— The 
Third  Expedition  and  its  Explorations — Difficulties  with  the  Mex- 
ican-Califomians — General  Castro's  Orders  to  leave  the  Country — 
Determination  to  Fight — Fremont  goes  to  Lawson's  Fort — Fre- 
mont and  his  Men  encounter  a  Thousand  Indians — The  Battle 
and  the  Victory — The  news  that  War  had  been  declared  between 
the  United  States  and  Mexico  reaches  Fremont — Lieutenant  Gil- 
lespie  Rescued  from  the  Indians — Three  of  the  Party  Killed  in 
the  Night  by  Indians— The  Savages  Repulsed— The  Burial  of 
Comrades, .  228 


XIV  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Fremont  en  route  for  California — His  Men  are  Anxious  to  Punish  the 
Klarnath  Indians — Kit  Carson,  in  command  of  Ten  Men,  is  sent  on 
ahead  to  Reconnoitre— He  discovers  the  main  Village  of  these  In- 
dians— The  Attack  and  the  Victory — Beautiful  Lodges — The  Tro- 
phies mostly."  Destroyed — Fremont  saves  Kit  Carson's  Life — The 
Journey  resumed — The  Sacramento  Valley — An  Indian  Ambus- 
cade—One Savage  defies  the  Party — Kit  Carson  shoots  him— The 
Klamath  Indians  still  on  the  War  Path — Another  Lesson  given  to 
them — A  Thief  is  Shot — Arrival  at  Lawson's  Trading  Post — A 
period  of  Inactivity — A  Detachment  sent  to  capture  Sonoma — 
Prisoners  taken — The  Mexicans  come  to  punish  the  Americans — 
Their  Courage  deserts  them — The  Retreat — The  Pursuit— Fre- 
mont goes  to  Sutter's  Fort  and  establishes  a  Military  Post — Mon- 
"iefey  is  Taken  by  the  American  Squadron — Fremont  marches 
there — Further  Operations — The  Taking  of  Los  Angelos, .  .  .  261 

CHAPTER   XL 

Kit  Carson  is  sent  Overland  as  Bearer  of  Dispatches  to  Washington — 
The  Preparation  and  the  Start — The  Journey — Privations  and  Suf- 
ferings— Meeting  with  General  Kearney — The  General  takes  Car- 
son as  his  Guide  and  Sends  on  his  Dispatches  by  Fitzpatrick — The 
March — Arrival  at  Warner's  Ranch — Mexicans  on  the  Road — Prep- 
arations for  a  Battle — The  Battle — Disastrous  Consequences — Kit 
Carson  and  Lieutenant  Beale  Offer  to  Run  the  Lines  of  the  Mexi- 
can Sentinels  and  Carry  Information  to  San  Diego  of  Kearney's 
Critical  Position — The  Daring  Undertaking — The  Sufferings  they 
Encountered — Their  Arrival— Re-inforcements  Sent  Out — Lieuten- 
ant Beale  is  Delirious  from  the  Privations  he  has  Undergone — 
General  Kearney  and  his  Command  Finally  Reach  and  Join  the 
other  American  Forces  in  California, 278 

CHAPTER  XII. 

A  Command  of  Six  Hundred  Men  is  sent  against  Los  Angelos — 
The  Mexican  Army  Evacuates  the  Town — Its  Capture — Rumors 
of  an  Attack  to  be  Made  on  Fremont's  Command — The  Mexicans 
Surrender — The  Winter  Quarters — Kit  Carson  is  ordered  to  Carry 
Dispatches  Overland  to  Washington — Lieutenant  Beale  Accompa- 
nies him — A  Night  Attack  Made  by  the  Indians — Arrival  in  the 
United  States — Kit  Carson's  Introduction  to  Colonel  Benton  and 
Mrs.  Fremont — Hospitality  offered  to  him  at  Washington — Kit 
Carson  receives  the  Appointment  of  Lieutenant  in  the  Rifle  Corps 
of  the  United  States  Army  from  President  Polk — He  is  ordered 
to  Carry  Dispatches  to  California — The  Journey — A  Brush  with 
the  Camanche  Indians — Arrival  at  Santa  Fe — More  Trouble  with 
Hostile  Indians — Arrival  at  Los  Angelos — Dispatches  Delivered — 
Kit  Carson  is  Assigned  to  do  Duty  with  the  Dragoons — Is  ordered 
to  Guard  Tajon  Pass — The  Winter  Spent  there— Is  Ordered  again 
to  Carry  Dispatches  to  Washington — The  Journey  and  its  Adven- 
tures—The Return  to  New  Mexico, 300 


CONTENTS.  XV 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

PAOB. 

Kit  Carson  at  his  Home  —  The  Apache  Indians  become  Hostile  —  An 
Expedition  Sent  Against  them  —  It  is  not  Successful  —  Another  is 
Organized,  with  which  Kit  Carson  goes  as  Guide  —  Two  Indian 
Chiefs  Captured  —  Other  Incidents  of  the  Trip  —  Colonel  Beall  At- 
tempts to  force  the  Indians  to  give  up  Mexican  Captives  —  Two 
Thousand  Savages  on  the  Arkansas  River  —  The  Visit  to  them  —  jilt 
Carson  Emigrates  and  Builds  a  Ranch  at  Rayado  —  Description  ot 
the  Valley  —  The  Massacre  of  a  Santa  Fe  Merchant  —  His  Wife  is 
made  Prisoner  —  The  Expedition  Sent  to  Rescue  her  —  The  Indians 
Overtaken—  Bad  Counsel  and  Management  —  The  Commanding 
Officer  Wounded  —  Mrs.  White's  Body  Found  —  Severe  Snow  Storm 
on  the  Plains  —  One  Man  Frozen  to  Death  —  Kit  Carson  Returns  to 
Rayado—  The  Occupation  of  a  Farmer  Resumed  —  The  Apaches 
Steal  from  the  Settlers  nearly  all  of  their  Animals  —  Kit  Carson 
with  thirteen  others  in  Pursuit  —  The  Surprise  —  A  Running  Fight 
—  The  Animals  Recovered  —  A  gallant  Sergeant  and  his  Fate  —  Kit 
Carson  and  Goodel  go  on  a  Trading  Expedition  to  meet  Cali- 
fornia Emigrants  at  Fort  Laramie  —  Humorous  Adventures  —  The 
Dangers  that  beset  the  Road  to  New  Mexico  —  Hair-breadth  Es- 
cape—Arrival at  Taos,  ..............  326 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Kit  Carson  reaches  Home  —  Himself  and  Neighbors  Robbed  by  the 
Apaches  —  Major  Grier  goes  in  Pursuit  of,  and  Recaptures  the 
Stolen  Stock  —  A  Plot  organized  by  White  Men  to  Murder  two 
Santa  Fe  Traders  for  their  Money  —  The  Disclosure  —  Kit  Carson 
goes  to  the  Rescue  of  the  Traders—  The  Camp  of  United  States 
Recruits  —  Captain  Ewell  with  twenty  Men  joins  Kit  Carson  —  The 
Arrest  of  Fox  —  Gratitude  Expressed  by  the  Traders  —  Money  Of- 
fered but  Refused  —  The  Prisoner  taken  to  Taos  and  Incarcerated  — 
Kit  Carson  receives  a  Magnificent  Pair  of  Revolvers  as  a  Present 
from  the  grateful  Traders  —  The  Return  to  Rayado  —  A  Trading 
Expedition  to  the  United  States  —  The  Return  Journey  —  An  En- 
counter with  the  Cheyenne  Indians  —  A  State  of  Suspense  —  The 
Deliverance  from  Danger  by  a  Message  sent  by  a  Mexican  Runner 


ang 
Rayad 


—The  arrival  at  Raado,    ..............     366 

CHAPTER   XV. 

Kit  Carson's  last  Trapping  Expedition  —  He  Embarks  in  a  Specula- 
tion —  His  Trip  to  California  with  a  large  Flock  of  Sheep  —  The 
Methods  Employed  by  Mexicans  in  driving  Herds,  and  their  Dex- 
terity —  Kit  Carson  goes  to  San  Francisco  —  Its  wonderful  Growth 

—  Maxwell  joins   Kit   Carson  at    Sacramento  City  —  The   Lucky 
Speculation  —  The  Return  Trip  to  New  Mexico  and  its  Adventures 

—  The  Mormon   Delegate  to  Congress  informs  Kit  Carson  of  his 
Appointment  as  Indian  Agent  —  Kit  Carson  enters  upon  the  Duties 
Of  his   Office—  Bell's  Fight  with  the  Apaches  on  Red  River—  Kit 
Carson's  Interview  with  the  same  Indians  —  High-handed  Measures 
on  the  Part  of  the  Apaches  —  Davidson's  Desperate  Fight  with  them 


XVI  CONTENTS. 


— The  Soldiers  Defeated  with  Severe  Loss — Davidson's  Bravery  is 
Unjustly  Questioned — Kit  Carson's  Opinion  of  it— The  Apaches 
Elated  by  their  Victory — Their  Imitations  of  the  Actions  of  Mili- 
tary Men, 394 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

A  fresh  Campaign  set  on  foot — Colonel  Cook  in  Command — Kit  Car- 
son goes  as,Guide — The  Apaches  and  Utahs  leagued  together — The 
Roughness  of  the  Country  and  the  Privations  to  which  the  Com- 
mand was  exposed — The  Indians  Overhauled — A  Running  Fight — 
The  Advantages  gained — The  Chase  resumed — The  Apaches  resort 
to  their  old  Tricks — Colonel  Cook  is  obliged  to  Return  to  Abiquiu 
— A  Utah  taken  Prisoner  through  Mistake — Kit  Carson  goes  to 
Taos  and  has  a  Conference  with  the  Chiefs  of  the  Utah  Nation — 
Cook's  second  Scout — He  is  caught  in  a  furious  Snow-storm  and 
is  obliged  to  Return  to  Rio  Colorado — Major  Brooks  and  Re-inforce- 
ments  come  to  the  Rescue — Major  Brooks  on  the  Lookout,  but  fails 
to  find  the  Indians — Carlton's  Expedition — Kit  Carson  goes  with 
it  as  Guide — The  Adventures  met  with — Kit  Carson's  Prophecy 
comes  true — The  Muache  Band  of  Utahs  summoned  by  Kit  Carson 
to  a  Grand  Council — Troubles  brewing  among  these  Indians — 
The  Small-Pox  carries  off  their  Head  Men, Ml 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Commencement  of  a  Formidable  Indian  War — High-handed 
Measures  on  the  Part  of  the  Indians — The  Governor  of  New  Mex- 
ico raises  Five  Hundred  Mexican  Volunteers  and  places  them  under 
the  Command  of  Colonel  St.  Vrain — Colonel  Fauntleroy  placed  in 
Command  of  all  the  Forces — Kit  Carson  is  chosen  as  Chie£  Guide 
— The  Campaign  Commenced — The  Trail  Found — The  Indians  are 
met  and  the  first  Fight  and  its  Consequences — An  Excitement  in 
Camp — The  Indians  again  Overtaken — The  Return  to  Fort  Massa- 
chusetts— Intense  Cold  Weather  experienced — The  Second  Cam- 
paign— Colonel  Fauntleroy  Surprises  the  Main  Camp  of  the  Enemy 
— The  Scalp  Dance  Broken  Up — Terrible  Slaughter  of  the  Indians 
— The  Great  Amount  of  Plunder  Taken  and  Destroyed — Another 
Small  Party  of  Indians  Surprised  and  Routed — St.  Vrain  equally 
Fortunate  in  his  Campaign — The  Indians  Sue  for  Peace — The  Coun- 
cil held  and  Treaties  signed — Kit  Carson  opposes  the  making  of 
them — The  poor  Protection  Indian  Treaties  usually  afford  to  Set- 
tlers— Kit  Carson's  House  at  Taos  and  his  Indian  Friends — His 
Attachment  for  his  Family  put  to  the  Test — Cowardice  of  a  Mex- 
ican— Kit  Carson's  Friends  as  they  looked  upon  him — His  Influ- 
ence over  Indians, 472 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Carson  not  allowed  to  Remain  Idle — His  Position  in  our  late  Civil 
War — He  is  Needed  on  an  Important  Field  of  Army  Operations — 
His  Love  for  the  Union — His  Promise  to  Stand  by  the  Old  Flag — 
His  Fulfillment  of  the  Promise — Is  Appointed  Colonel  of  the  First 


Before,  however,- Captain  Shunan  could  discharge  his  gun,  the  ball  from  Kit  Carson's 
pistol  shattered  his  forearm.— PAGE  112. 


CONTENTS.  XV11 

RAM. 

New  Mexico  Volunteers — His  Friendship  with  General  Canby — 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Pfiefer — Valuable  Service  against  the  Caman- 
ches,  Arrapahoes  and  Cheyennes — Overpowered  and  Defeated — 
Fearful  Loss — A  Brilliant  Campaign  against  the  Navajoes — In- 
creased Fame — The  War  Department  sound  his  Praises  in  Flatter- 
ing Terms — Brigadier  General  of  Volunteers — Detailed  for  Re- 
sponsible Duty — Appointed  Peace  Commissioner  to  the  Sioux — A 
Delicate  Mission — The  Indian  Policy  of  our  Government — A  Refor- 
mation Movement — A  Wise  and  Humane  Policy — Kit  Carson's 
Opinion  as  to  what  Should  be  Done — His  Wonderful  Success  in 
Treating  with  the  Savages — Beloved  and  Feared — The  Visit  of  In- 
dian Chiefs  to  Washington — The  Effects  of  Civilization — Recep- 
tions and  Speeches  of  Buffalo  Good  and  Little  Raven — The  Indian 
Question,  and  What  Has  Been  Done,  and  What  Must  Be  Done,  to 
Secure  Lasting  Peace — The  Death  of  General  Kit  Carson,  at  Fort 
Lyon.  Colorado — His  Death  Hastened  by  the  Loss  of  his  Wife — 
A  Man  of  Striking  Virtues — Kit  Carson  as  a  Free  Mason — Ma- 
sonic Signs  among  the  Indians, 548 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Modocs  at  Home — Their  Habits  and  Customs — Life  Among  the 
Lava  Beds — Continual  Warfare  Between  the  Modocs  and  Klamaths 
— Scraps  of  Modoc  History — Unfriendly  to  the  Whites — A  Division 
of  the  Tribe — Captain  Jack  the  Ruling  Turbulent  Spirit — Refusing 
to  go  upon  the  Reservation — Determined  to  Shed  Blood — Schon- 
chin  and  Captain  Jack — The  Efforts  of  the  Peace  Commission — A 
Peaceable  Settlement  Desired — General  Canby  and  the  Indians — 
His  Kindness  Toward  Them — Provisions,  Calico,  and  Tobacco — 
Treachery  of  the  Modocs — Going  Out  for  a  Talk — Murder  of  Gen- 
eral Canby  and  Dr.  Thomas — Description  of  the  Murderers — Scar- 
Faced  Charley,  Bogus  Charley,  Schack  Nasty  Jim  and  Ellen's 
Man  Captured — Indignation  of  the  Troops — Mourning  the  Loss  of 
a  Brave  Man — General  Canby  ;  His  Noble,  Heroic  Life  and  Deeds 
— Capture  of  Captain  Jaek — Trial  of  the  Murderers — Finis,  .  .  566 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


1.  PORTRAIT  OP  KIT  CARSON,  (From  a  photograph  taken 

shortly  before  his  death,) Frontispiece. 

2.  PORTRAIT  OF  THE  AUTHOR, Facing  frontispiece. 

3.  SHOSHONKE  FALLS, 57 

4.  FIGHT  WITH  GRIZZLY  BEARS, 91 

5.  THE  SUMMER  RENDEZVOUS, 103 

6.  PUNISHING  THE  BRAGGADOCIO, 113 

7.  UPPER  FALLS,  YELLOW  STONE  RIVER, 119 

8.  YELLOW  STONE  LAKE • 119 

9.  A  BLACKFEET  WARRIOR, 129 

10.  THE  DEATH  SHOT, 137 

11.  AN  INDIAN  WAR  DANCE, 147 

12.  BASIN  ON  COLUMBIA  RIVER,    . 155 

13.  KIT  AND  HIS  FAVORITE  HORSE,  "APACHE," 170 

14.  BUFFALO  HUNT, 175 

15.  A  PERILOUS  PASSAGE  DOWN  THE  PLATTE, 193 

16.  LAKE  KLAMATH, 205 

17.  MEXICAN  CART, 235 

18.  PEUBLO  AT  TAOS, 235 

19.  MOUNT  SHASTA, 253 

20.  FIGHT  IN  LAVA  BEDS, 265 

21.  FREMONT  SAVES  CARSON'S  LIFE, 271 

22.  CAMANCHE  HORSEMANSHIP, 315 

23.  A  TERRIFIC  SNOW  STORM, 347 

24.  Lo!    THE  POOR  INDIAN, 379 

25.  A  PRAIRIE  ON  FIRE, 419 

26.  FORT  MASSACHUSETTS  IN  1855, 485 

27.  THRILLING  ADVENTURE  WITH  APACHE, 503 

28.  INDIAN  SCALP  DANCE, 509 

29  AN  INDIAN  VILLAGE  ON  THE  MOVE, 513 

30.  CARSON'S  HOME  AT  TAGS, 537 

31.  AMONG  THE  NAVAJOES 550 

32.  CAPTAIN  JACK, 589 

83.  MODOC  WARRIORS,       595 

34.  STRONGHOLD  OF  THE  MODOCS, 601 


LIFE    OF 

KIT  CARSON. 


OHAPTEE   I. 

Carson's  Birthplace — His  Emigration  to  Missouri — Early  Prospects — Is 
an  Apprentice — Stories  of  the  Rocky  Mountains — He  Enlists  to  go 
there — Adventures  on  the  Prairies — Broader  is  Wounded — Carson's 
Nerve  put  to  the  Test — Rude  Amputation — Safe  Arrival  at  Santa  Fe — 
Goes  to  Taos  and  learns  the  Spanish  Language — Early  Vicissitudes — 
Disappointment  and  Attempt  to  return  to  Missouri — Wants  a  Woolen 
Shirt— Is  Employed  as  an  Interpreter,  Teamster,  etc. 

IT  is  now  a  well-established  fact,  that  no  State  in  the 
American  Union  has  given  birth  to  so  many  distin- 
guished pioneers  and  explorers  of  its  boundless  Terri- 
tories, as  the  commonwealth  of  Kentucky.  An  author, 
whose  task  is  to  tell  of  a  hero,  his  bravery,  endurance, 
privations,  integrity,  self-denial  and  deeds  of  daring, 
carries  the  morale  with  which  to  gain  at  once  for  these 
characteristics  the  assent  of  the  reader,  by  the  simple 
assertion,  "My  hero  was  born  a  Kentuckian."  In- 
deed, in  America,  to  be  a  native  of  the  State  of  Ken- 
tucky, is  to  inherit  all  the  attributes  of  a  brave  man,  a 
safe  counselor  and  a  true  friend.  It  is,  at  least,  cer- 
tain that  this  State,  whether  the  fact  is  due  to  its  in- 
land and  salubrious  climate,  or  to  its  habits  of  physical 
training,  has  added  many  a  hero  unto  humanity. 


22  EAKLY   PROSPECTS. 

ily  from  their  midnight  dreams  by  the  wild,  death- 
announcing  war-whoop  ;  hair-breadth  escapes  from  the 
larger  kinds  of  game,  boldly  bearded  in  their  lair ;  the 
manly  courage  which  never  yields,  but  surmounts  every 
obstacle  presented  by  the  unbroken  and  boundless  for- 
est; all  these  are  subjects  and  facts  which  have  already 
so  many  counterparts  in  book-thought,  accessible  to  the 
general  reader,  that  their  details  may  be  safely  omitted 
during  the  boyhood  days  of  young  Carson.  It  is  bet- 
ter, therefore,  to  pass  over  the  youthful  period  of  his 
eventful  life,  until  he  began  to  ripen  into  manhood. 

Kit  Carson,  at  fifteen  years  of  age,  was  no  ordinary 
person.  He  had  at  this  early  age  earned,  and  well 
earned,  a  reputation,  on  the  basis  of  which  the  prediction 
was  ventured  in  his  behalf,  that  he  would  not  fail  to 
make  and  leave  a  mark  upon  the  hearts  of  his  country- 
men. Those  who  knew  him  at  the  age  of  fifteen  hesi- 
tated not  to  say,  "  Kit  Carson  is  the  boy  who  will  grow 
into  a  man  of  influence  and  renown." 

The  chief  points  of  his  character  which  elicited  this 
prediction  were  thus  early  clearly  marked.  Some  of  his 
traits  were  kindness  and  good  qualities  of  heart,  deter- 
mined perseverance,  indomitable  will,  unflinching  cour- 
age, great  quickness  and  shrewdness  of  perception,  and 
promptitude  in  execution.  The  predictions  uttered  by 
the  hardy  rangers  of  the  forest  concerning  a  boy  like 
Carson  are  seldom  at  fault ;  and  Kit  was  one  who,  by 
many  a  youthful  feat  worthy  the  muscle  of  riper  years, 
had  endeared  himself  to  their  honest  love.  It  was  among 
such  men  and  for  such  reason  that  Kit  Carson,  thus 
early  in  life,  had  won  the  influence  and  rewards  of  a 
general  favorite. 

His   frame   was  slight,  below  the   medium  stature, 


A  BLACKFEET  WARRIOR. 


26  TRUE    INDIAN    CHARACTER. 

curiosity  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  on  Plymouth 
Bock,  should  have  been  attracted  by  the  wonderful 
inventions  of  the  white-man  intruder.  A  very  short 
period  of  time  served  to  turn  this  ungovernable  curi- 
osity into  troublesome  thieving.  Knowing  no  law  but 
their  wild  traditionary  rules,  they  wrested  from  the  ad- 
venturous pioneer  his  rifle,  knife,  axe,  wagon,  harness, 
horse,  powder,  ball,  flint,  watch,  compass,  cooking  uten- 
sils, and  so  forth.  The  result  was,  sanguinary  engage- 
ments ensued,  wrhich  led  to  bitter  hostility  between  the 
two  races.  Doubtless  the  opinion  may  be  controverted, 
but  it  nevertheless  shall  be  hazarded,  that,  until  the 
weaker  party  shall  be  exterminated  by  the  stronger, 
the  wild  war-whoop,  with  its  keen-edged  knife  and 
death-dealing  rifle  accompaniments,  will  continue,  from 
time  to  time,  to  palsy  the  nerve,  and  arouse  the  cour- 
age of  the  pioneer  white  man.  The  Indian,  in  his  at- 
tack, no  longer  showers  cloth-yard  arrows  upon  his  foe. 
He  has  learned  to  kill  his  adversary  with  the  voice  of 
thunder  and  the  unseen  bullet. 

The  bold  traveler,  whose  pathway  lies  over  those 
great  high-roads  which  lead  to  the  Pacific  must  still 
watch  for  the  red  man's  ambush  by  day,  and  by  night 
sleep  under  the  protecting  vigilance  of  the  faithful, 
quick-sighted  sentinel.  The  savage  never  forgives  his 
own  or  his  ancestor's  foe.  Every  generation  of  them 
learns  from  tradition,  the  trials  and  exploits  of  its 
tribe.  From  earliest  boyhood  these  form  the  burden 
of  their  education  in  history ;  and,  on  performing  the 
feat  of  courage  or  strength  which  admits  them  to 
the  councils  of  the  braves,  their  nation's  wrongs  are 
uppermost  in  their  thoughts,  causing  them  to  thirst 
for  a  revenge  which  sooner  or  later  gives  them  a 


SO         KIT'S  NERVE  PUT  TO  THE  TEST. 

citing  and  intensely  painful.  The  members  of  the 
council,  however,  took  it  upon  themselves  to  designate 
the  persons,  and  chose  Carson  with  two  others.  These 
immediately  set  at  work  to  execute  their  sad  but  neces- 
sary task.  The  arrangements  were  all  hastily,  but  care- 
fully made,  and  the  cutting  begun.  The  instruments 
used  were  a  razor,  an  old  saw,  and,  to  arrest  the  hemor- 
rhage, the  king  bolt  taken  from  one  of  the  wagons  was 
heated  and  applied  to  serve  as  an  actual  cautery.  The 
operation,  rudely  performed,  with  rude  instruments,  by 
unpractised  hands,  excited  to  action  only  by  the  spur 
of  absolute  necessity,  proved,  nevertheless,  entirely 
successful.  Before  the  caravan  arrived  at  Santa  Fe,  the 
patient  had  so  far  recovered  that  he  was  able  to  take 
care  of  himself. 

Besides  this  unfortunate  affair,  nothing  worthy  of  note 
transpired,  beyond  the  general  record  of  their  route, 
during  the  remainder  of  their  journey.  The  latter  would 
be  too  voluminous  for  the  general  reader,  and  has 
already  served  its  purpose  as  an  assistant  to  other  ex- 
ploring parties,  both  from  published  account  and  con- 
versational directions.  The  party  entered  Santa  Fe  in 
the  month  of  November.  Very  soon  after,  Kit  Carson 
left  his  companions  and  proceeded  to  Fernandez  de 
Taos,  a  Mexican  town,  which  lies  about  eighty  miles  to 
the  north-east  of  the  capital  of  New  Mexico.  During 
the  winter  that  followed  his  arrival  in  the  territory  of 
New  Mexico,  Kit  lived  with  an  old  mountaineer  by  the 
name  of  Kin  Cade,  who  very  kindly  offered  him  a  home. 
It  was  at  this  period  of  his  life  that  he  commenced 
studying  the  Spanish  language.  His  friend  Kin  Cade 
became  his  assistant  in  this  task.  At  the  same  time 
Kit  neglected  no  opportunity  to  learn  all  he  could 


46  GROWING   POPULARITY. 

were  like  the  good  ship  to  the  hardy  sailors  on  the 
mighty  ocean.  The  joyful  reaction  which  followed 
such  complete  success  was  in  ratio  to  the  fears  which 
the  continuing  suspense  had  excited. 

Kit  Carson,  though  at  that  day  a  youth  in  years  and 
experience  when  compared  with  the  other  members  of 
the  party  of  which  he  was  then  an  associate,  had  risen 
rapidly  in  the  estimation  of  all,  and  had  excited  the 
admiration  and  enlisted  in  his  behalf  the  confidence  of 
the  entire  band.  When  called  upon  to  add  his  counsel 
and  advice  to  the  general  fund  of  knowledge  offered  by 
the  trappers  concerning  any  doubtful  or  difficult  enter- 
prise, his  masterly  foresight  and  shrewdness,  as  well  as 
clearness  in  attending  to  details,  alone  gave  him  willing 
auditors.  But  it  was  the  retired  manner  and  modest 
deportment,  which  he  invariably  wore,  that  won  for  him 
the  love  of  his  associates.  Such  characteristics  failed 
not  to  surprise,  in  no  ordinary  degree,  those  who  could 
boast  a  long  life-time  of  experience  in  Indian  countries. 
Kit  Carson's  powers  of  quickly  conceiving  thoughts,  on 
difficult  emergencies,  which  pointed  out  the  safest  and 
best  plans  of  action,  "just  the  things  that  ought  to  be 
done,"  and  his  bravery,  which,  in  his  youth,  sometimes 
amounted  to  rashness,  were  the  component  parts  of  his 
ability  which  thus  caused  his  companions  to  follow  his 
leadership.  His  courage,  promptitude,  willingness,  self- 
reliance,  caution,  sympathy,  and  care  for  the  wounded, 
marked  him  at  once  as  the  master-mind  and  safest  coun- 
sellor. His  first  trapping  expedition  gained  him  so 
much  credit  that,  from  the  time  it  was  concluded,  he 
found  no  difficulty  in  joining  any  band  of  trappers,  no 
matter  how  select  the  party.  In  this  respect  the 
mountaineers  resemble  sea-faring  men,  wrho  invariably 


INDIANS    YS.    BEATER.  61 

dowed  with  an  extraordinary  amount  of  instinct.  His 
handiwork  and  habits  sufficiently  attest  this. 

There  are  bands  of  Indians  living  in  the  north-west- 
ern part  of  America  who  really  believe  that  the  beaver 
has  almost  as  much  intelligence  as  an  Indian,  holding 
and  maintaining  that  all  the  difference  that  exists  be- 
tween a  beaver  and  an  Indian  is,  that  the  latter  has 
been  endowed  by  the  Great  Spirit  with  power  and 
capabilities  to  catch  the  former.  Some  of  the  stories 
which  old  mountaineers  occasionally  inflict  upon  an  in- 
quisitive traveler  are  somewhat  startling ;  nevertheless, 
what  this  amphibious  animal  really  performs  is  truly 
astounding,  and  oftentimes  the  truth  fails  to  gain  cre- 
dence. 

During  the  winter  the  trappers  had  many  very 
pleasant  times,  for  they  had  little  work  beyond  the 
task  of  making  themselves  comfortable.  The  snow 
fell  to  a  great  depth,  which  proved  rather  hard  for 
their  animals.  By  dint  of  cutting  down  cotton-wood 
trees  and  gathering  the  bark  and  branches  for  fodder, 
they  managed  to  prevent  them  from  dying  of  starva- 
tion. The  buffalo  existed  about  there  in  great  abun- 
dance ;  and,  early  in  the  winter,  they  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  kill  and  prepare  a  large  supply  of  this 
kind  of  game,  while  it  was  in  good  condition.  As  the 
season  advanced,  therefore,  the  trappers  found  them- 
selves living  quite  sumptuously. 

In  the  month  of  January,  the  daily  routine  of  their 
lives  was  rather  unpleasantly  disturbed.  A  party  of 
fifty  Crow  Indians  made  an  unfriendly  visit  to  their 
camp  on  one  very  dark  night.  They  succeeded  in 
stealing  nine  of  their  loose  animals,  with  which  they 
escaped  unperceived.  Early  the  next  morning,  the 


$m&&    i>-, 

7.-''"- 


KIT  AND  HIS  FAVORITE  HORSE   "APACHE/ 


NO    TIME    TO    COGITATE.  93 

and  cause  of  which  he  well  knew  by  his  experienced 
woodman's  ear,  educated  until  its  nicety  was  truly  won- 
derful, he  saw  two  huge  and  terribly  angry  grizzly 
bears.  As  his  eye  first  rested  upon  these  unwelcome 
guests,  they  were  bounding  towards  him,  their  eyes 
flashing  fiery  passion,  their  pearly  teeth  glittering  with 
eagerness  to  mangle  his  flesh,  and  their  monstrous  fore- 
arms, hung  with  sharp,  bony  claws,  ready  and  anxious 
to  hug  his  body  in  a  close  and  most  loving  embrace. 
There  was  not  much  time  for  Kit  to  scratch  his  head 
and  cogitate.  In  fact,  one  instant  spent  in  thought 
then  would  have  proved  his  death-warrant  without  hope 
of  a  reprieve.  Messrs.  Bruin  evidently  considered  their 
domain  most  unjustly  intruded  upon.  The  gentle  elk 
and  deer,  mayhap,  were  their  dancing  boys  and  girls ; 
and,  like  many  a  petty  king  in  savage  land,  they  may 
have  dined  late,  and  were  now  enjoying  a  scenic  treat 
of  their  ballet  troupe.  At  all  events,  Kit  required  no 
second  thought  to  perceive  that  the  monarchs  of  the 
American  forest  were  unappeasably  angry,  and  were 
fast  nearing  him  with  mighty  stride.  Dropping  his 
rifle,  the  little  leaden  bullet  of  which  would  now  have 
been  worth  to  him  its  weight  in  gold  if  it  could,  by 
some  magic  wand,  have  been  transferred  from  the  heart 
of  the  elk  back  into  its  breech,  he  bounded  from  his 
position  in  close  imitation  of  the  elk,  but  with  better 
success.  The  trees !  he  hoped  and  prayed,  as  he  fairly 
flew  over  the  ground  with  the  bears  hot  in  chase,  for 
one  quick  grasp  at  a  sturdy  sapling.  By  good  fortune, 
or  special  Providence,  his  hope,  or  prayer,  was  answered. 
Grasping  a  lower  limb,  he  swung  his  body  up  into  the 
first  tier  of  branches  just  as  passing  Bruin  brushed 
against  one  of  his  legs.  Bears  climb  trees,  and  Kit 


98  A   FORMIDABLE    ENEMY. 

could  not  tell ;  but,  on  becoming  again  conscious,  he 
found  that  the  victory  was  on  his  side,  for  the  bear 
had  already  breathed  his  last.  The  poor  boy,  notwith- 
standing his  wounds,  as  soon  as  the  battle  was  de- 
cided, and,  as  he  supposed,  at  the  cost  of  his  friend's 
life,  started  for  a  neighboring  fort,  and,  reaching  it  the 
following  morning,  reported  the  affair.  A  party  of 
men  well  armed  immediately  marched  to  the  rescue. 
They  found  the  brave  hunter  in  a  most  pitiful  condi- 
tion, with  his  flesh  terribly  mangled,  his  clothes  torn 
into  ribbons,  and  his  back  and  shoulders  one  mass  of 
lacerated  wounds.  His  reason  had  already  become 
unseated.  In  his  native  language  he  would  call  out  to 
his  now  visionary  foe,  "  If  you  are  a  brave  man,  come 
on."  Although  the  most  delicate  care  and  assistance 
was  rendered  to  Sanchez,  it  was  many  weeks  before  he 
was  able  to  resume  his  occupation  ;  and,  even  then,  he 
owed  his  life  to  the  wonderful  recuperative  powers  of 
his  healthy  and  iron  constitution.  Had  the  fact  been 
otherwise,  he  could  not  have  survived  his  injuries.  One 
more  brave  heart  must  have  yielded  its  last  drop  of  he- 
roic blood  in  defence  of  youthful  weakness.  This  pic- 
ture, because  it  does  not  exaggerate  the  facts,  we  leave 
with  regret,  for  it  is  a  pleasure  to  contemplate  such 
nobility  of  character,  whatever  be  the  name  which  de- 
clares the  governmental  allegiance  to  the  hero. 

It  is  not  going  beyond  the  bounds  of  truth  to  assert 
that  the  grizzly  bear  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  is  as 
formidable  an  enemy  as  the  hunter  is  called  upon  to 
meet,  wherever  the  hunting-ground  and  whatever  the 
animal  which  opponents  to  our  assertion  may  set  up. 
When  caught  out  on  the  open  prairie,  where  he  can 
be  attacked  on  horseback  and  lassoed,  the  chances 


iiiiiiiiil 


CARSON    SEVERELY   WOUNDED.  107 

whites.  The  council  then  commenced.  The  head  men 
among  the  savages  led  off  by  making  several  lengthy 
and  unmeaning  speeches.  In  their  replies,  the  trappers 
came  directly  to  the  point,  and  said  they  could  hear 
no  overtures  for  peace,  until  their  property  was  re- 
stored to  them.  The  Indians,  hearing  this  demand 
several  times  repeated,  began  to  presume  upon  their 
strength,  assuming  an  overbearing  demeanor.  After 
considerable  talk  among  themselves,  they  sent  out  and 
brought  in  five  of  the  poorest  horses,  declaring  that  it 
was  the  only  number  they  could  return.  The  trappers 
upon  hearing  this,  ran  for  their  arms ;  when  the  Indians 
instantly  started  for  theirs.  The  fight  was  renewed 
by  both  parties.  Kit  Carson,  in  the  rush  made  for 
the  rifles,  and  one  of  his  companions  named  Markhead, 
succeeded  in  getting  hold  of  their  weapons  first ;  and 
consequently,  they  formed  the  advance  in  the  return 
to  the  contest.  They  selected  for  their  antagonists, 
two  Indians  who  were  close  together ;  but  who  were 
partially  concealed  behind  separate  trees.  As  Kit  was 
on  the  point  of  raising  his  rifle  to  fire,  he  saw  by  a  quick 
side  glance  at  Markhead,  that  he  was  working  at  the 
lock  of  his  gun  without  paying  attention  to  his  adver- 
sary, who  was  aiming  at  him  with,  almost,  a  certainty 
of  killing  him.  Kit  instantly  changed  the  direction  of 
his  rifle  and  fired,  sending  a  bullet  through  the  heart 
of  Markhead's  adversary ;  but,  in  thus  saving  the  life 
of  his  friend,  he  was  obliged,  for  the  instant,  to  neglect 
his  own  adversary.  A  quick  glance  showed  him  the 
fellow  sighting  over  his  rifle  and  that  the  mouth  of  the 
Indian's  gun  covered  his  breast.  Upon  the  instant  he 
endeavored  to  dodge  the  bullet,  but  he  was  unsuccess- 
ful in  doing  so  completely.  It  struck  him  in  such  a  way 


FACING   A    BULLY.  Ill 

of  the  company  seemed  disposed  to  put  a  check  upon 
such  unmanly  behavior,  he  quietly  determined  to  make 
the  affair  his  own. 

An  opportunity  soon  presented  itself.  A  number  of 
the  company  had  congregated  together  and  were  en- 
gaged in  conversation,  when  Captain  Shunan  began 
anew  his  bullying  language,  this  time  a  little  more 
boisterous  than  usual.  Kit  Carson,  advancing  into  the 
centre  of  the  company,  and  placing  himself  in  front  of 
the  Captain,  thus  addressed  him  : 

"  Shunan,  before  you  stands  the  humblest  specimen 
of  an  American  in  this  band  of  trappers,  among  whom 
there  are,  to  my  certain  knowledge,  men  who  could 
easily  chastise  you,  but,  being  peaceably  disposed,  they 
keep  aloof  from  you.  At  any  rate,  I  assume  the  re- 
sponsibility of  ordering  you  to  cease  your  threats,  or  I 
will  be  under  the  necessity  of  killing  you." 

To  this  Captain  Shunan  did  not  reply ;  but,  im- 
mediately after  Kit  Carson  had  closed  his  remarks, 
he  turned  upon  his  heel  and  walked  directly  for  his 
lodge. 

Kit  Carson  was  too  well  versed  in  trapper  rules  not 
to  read  the  meaning  of  this  action.  He,  therefore, 
walked  off  also,  but  in  the  direction  of  his  own  lodge. 
In  a  brief  space  of  time  both  men  appeared  before  the 
camp,  each  mounted  on  their  respective  horses.  The 
affair  had  drawn  together  the  whole  band,  and  there 
were  many  witnesses  of  the  facts  here  recorded. 

Captain  Shunan  was  armed  with  his  rifle.  Kit  Car- 
son had  taken  merely  a  single-barrel  dragoon  pistol, 
which  happened  to  be  the  first  weapon  that  had  fallen 
in  his  way,  because  of  his  hurry  to  be  on  the  ground. 
The  two  men  now  rode  rapidly  towards  one  another, 


OllDEft    AND    PEACE    IN   THE    CAMP.  115 

Last,  had  Kit  Carson  not  gained  a  second  in  advance  in 
the  firing,  he  would  have  lost  his  own  life,  inevitably ; 
and,  the  emphatic  "  No !  "  the  lie  of  his  antagonist, 
would  have  been  crowned  with  success.  Such  plain 
deception  seldom  is  allowed  to  triumph  by  an  all-wise 
Providence. 

In  judging  Kit  Carson  in  this  matter,  the  reader  will 
commit  an  ungenerous  error  if  he  fails  to  allow  to  be 
placed,  in  the  balance  of  judgment,  the  stirring  deeds 
and  daily  hair-breadth  risks  Kit  Carson,  during  so 
many  years  of  his  eventful  life,  was  constantly  called 
upon  to  take  a  part  in  and  undergo.  We  take  leave 
of  this  unfortunate  scene  in  his  life,  feeling  confident  a 
just  public  opinion  will  see  in  it  no  cause  to  pluck  from 
the  brow  of  Kit  Carson  any  of  the  laurels  which  it  has 
been  called  upon  to  place  there.  As  a  man  of  truth, 
honor,  virtue,  and  reverence  for  the  laws  of  his  coun- 
try, Kit  Carson  had  few  equals  and  no  superior  among 
Americans.  It  needed  not  this  incident  to  establish  his 
courage ;  that  had  long  been  proven  to  be  undoubted. 
Nor  did  the  result  elate  his  feelings  in  the  least.  He 
met  his  companions  without  a  smile,  and  invariably 
expressed  his  regrets  that  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty,  for 
the  good  order  and  peace  of  the  camp,  to  interfere  in 
the  matter.  On  the  other  hand,  when  he  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  majority  in  maintaining  the  right,  he 
was  not  a  man  to  be  easily  thwarted.  When  the  affair 
was  ended,  Kit  was  congratulated,  and  received  the 
thanks  of  nearly  every  individual  present;  for,  each 
felt  that  a  load  of  most  vexatious  and  troublesome 
responsibility  had  been  taken  from  his  shoulders.  The 
good  fellowship  immediately  introduced  into  the  camp 
was  also  a  circumstance  of  mark. 


124          JUDGED  NOT  BY  HIS  COAT. 

their  saddles,  clothing,  and  moccasins.  With  the  aid 
of  a  few  buckskins,  procured  from  Indians,  and  a  few 
rude  tools,  they  soon  accomplished  wonders. 

To  give  the  reader  an  appropriate  view  of  the  genius 
to  conquer  obstacles  displayed  by  the  mountaineers,  he 
must  picture  one  of  them  just  starting  upon  a  long 
journey  over  the  prairies  and  through  the  mountains. 
His  wagon  and  harness  trappings,  if  he  chances  to  be 
possessed  of  worldly  effects  sufficient  to  warrant  him  in 
purchasing  a  first-class  outfit,  present  a  neat  and  trim 
appearance.  Follow  him  to  the  point  of  his  destina- 
tion, and  there  the  reader  will  discover,  perhaps,  a 
hundredth  part  of  the  original  vehicle  and  trappings. 
While  en  route,  the  bold  and  self-reliant  man  has  met 
with  a  hundred  accidents.  He  has  been  repeatedly 
called  upon  to  mend  and  patch  both  wagon  and  har- 
ness, besides  his  own  clothing.  Though  he  now  pre- 
sents a  dilapidated  appearance,  he  is  none  the  less  a 
man  ;  and,  if  his  name  is  known  as  a  regular  trapper 
and  mountaineer,  he  is  immediately  a  welcomed  and 
honored  guest.  If  the  broadcloth  of  a  prince  covered 
his  back,  spotless,  scientifically  shaped  and  foreign 
woven,  his  reception  would  not  be  more  heartfelt  and 
sincerely  cordial.  It  is  amusing  to  see  the  rawhide 
patches  of  harness,  wagon  and  clothing,  now  become 
dry  and  hard  as  oak.  To  have  dispensed  with  the  use 
of  buckskin  on  his  route,  would  have  been  like  cutting 
off  the  right  arm  of  the  gallant  pioneer.  Buckskin  and 
the  western  wilds  of  America  are  almost  synonymous 
terms ;  at  least,  the  one  suggests  the  other,  and  there- 
fore they  are  of  the  same  brotherhood.  The  traveler 
in  these  regions  of  this  day  fails  not  to  learn  and  ap- 
preciate its  value.  It  has  not  only  furnished  material 


AN  INDIAN  WAR  DANCE. 


146  AN   INDIAN   WAR -DANCE. 

breastworks.  This  task  was  so  successfully  accomplished 
that,  in  a  few  hours,  they  had  prepared  a  little  fortress 
which,  covered  with  their  unerring  rifles,  was  impreg- 
nable against  any  force  the  Indians  could  bring  against 
it.  The  advance  party  of  the  savages  soon  appeared  in 
sight,  but  when  they  discovered  the  strength  of  the  trap- 
pers, they  halted  and  awaited,  distant  about  half  a  mile 
from  the  breastwork,  the  arrival  of  the  rest  of  the  band. 
It  was  three  days  before  the  whole  force  of  the  Indians 
had  arrived.  They  mustered  about  one  thousand  war- 
riors. It  was  a  sight  which  few  white  men  of  the 
American  nation  have  looked  upon.  Arrayed  in  their 
fantastic  war  costume  and  bedaubed  with  paint,  armed 
with  lances,  bows  and  arrows,  rifles,  tomahawks,  knives, 
etc.,  some  mounted  and  some  on  foot,  they  presented  a 
wild  and  fearful  scene  of  barbaric  strength  and  fancy. 
Soon  after  their  last  company  had  reported,  the  fright- 
ful war-dance,  peculiar  to  the  American  savages,  was 
enacted  in  sight  of  the  trappers'  position.  The  battle 
songs  and  shouts  which  accompanied  the  dance  reached 
the  ears  of  the  whites  with  fearful  distinctness.  Any 
other  than  hearts  of  oak  with  courage  of  steel  would 
have  quailed  before  this  terrible  display  of  savage  en- 
mity and  ferocity.  This  dance,  to  men  so  well  skilled 
in  the  ways  of  the  Indian  warrior,  was  a  sure  signal  that 
the  next  day  would  be  certain  to  have  a  fearful  his- 
tory for  one  party  or  the  other,  and  doubtless  for  both. 
The  odds,  most  assuredly,  were  apparently  greatly  in 
favor  of  the  savage  host  and  against  the  little  band  of 
hardy  mountaineers. 

The  following  day  the  expectations  of  the  trappers 
were  realized.  The  Indians,  at  the  first  dawn  of  day, 
approached  the  breastwork,  eager  for  the  battle.  They 


158  MAGNIFICENT   SCENERY. 

refreshing  sight  both  to  the  physical  and  mental  eye. 
They  appear  as  if  descending  from  the  heavens  to  the 
surface  of  the  earth,  perpendicularly,  as  though  in- 
tended to  present  a  perfect  barrier  over  which  no  living 
thing  should  pass.  This  view  never  fails  to  engross  the 
earnest  attention  of  the  traveler,  and  hours  of  gazing 
only  serve  to  enwrap  the  mind  in  deeper  and  more 
fixed  contemplation.  Is  there  not  here  presented  a 
field  such  as  no  other  part  of  this  globe  can  furnish,  in 
which  the  explorer,  the  geologist,  the  botanist  may  sow 
and  reap  a  rich  harvest  for  his  enterprise  ?  To  the 
hunter,  the  real  lover  of,  and  dependent  upon  the  chase, 
there  can  be  >no  comparison  between  the  mighty  Alps 
and  the  huge  Eocky  Mountain  Barrier  of  the  American 
Prairies.  The  one  is  destitute  of  animal  life,  while  the 
other  bears  a  teeming  population  of  the  choicest  game 
known  to  the  swift-leaden  messenger  of  the  white  man's 
rifle.  He  who  wishes  to  behold  in  the  same  gaze  beautiful 
valleys,  highly  cultivated  by  a  romantic  and  interest- 
ing race,  in  rich  contrast  with  wonderfully  moulded 
masses  of  earth  and  stone,  covered  with  a  medley  of 
green  foliage  and  white  snow,  let  him  go  the  Alps. 

In  the  following  spring,  Kit  Carson,  accompanied  by 
only  one  trapper,  started  out  to  hunt  the  streams  in 
the  vicinity  of  Big  Snake  River.  The  Utah  nation  of 
Indians  inhabited  this  country,  and  with  them  Kit  Car- 
son stood  on  friendly  footing.  The  business  of  trap- 
ping was  therefore  carried  on  without  fear  of  molesta- 
tion. The  labors  of  the  two  were  crowned  with  great 
success. 

Loaded  with  a  full  cargo  of  fur,  they  soon  after  set 
out  for  Robidoux's  Fort,  which  they  reached  in  safety, 
selling  out  their  stock  to  good  advantage. 


Although  some  distance  off,  Kit  sprang  from  his  saddle,  and,  with  the  leap  of  an 
antelope,  and  the  rallying  cry  for  his  men,  was  on  the  ground,  ready  to  made  a  cer- 
tain shot.  His  aim  and  the  crack  of  his  rifle  almost  belonged  to  the  same  instant  of 
time.— PAGE  135. 


DRINKIXG   MULE'S    BLOOD.  121 

some  time,  when  it  was  divided.  McCoy  and  a  small 
escort  started  for  Fort  Walla  Walla.  Kit  Carson  and 
the  majority  of  the  men  took  up  their  line  of  march  for 
Fort  Hall.  While  en  route,  the  latter  division  was  sub- 
jected to  the  greatest  privations  imaginable.  Among 
the  worst  of  these  was  hunger,  as  their  trail  led  through 
a  barren  region  of  country.  For  a  short  time  they 
managed  to  subsist  upon  a  small  supply  of  nutritious 
roots,  which  had  been  provided  in  advance.  This  source 
finally  gave  out,  when  their  affairs  assumed  a  most 
desperate  attitude.  To  keep  from  starving,  they  bled 
their  mules,  and  drank  the  warm  red  blood  with  avidity, 
so  acutely  had  the  days  of  fasting  sharpened  their  ap- 
petites. This  operation,  however,  could  not  be  repeated 
without  endangering  the  lives  of  their  animals.  These 
also  were  on  a  short  allowance  of  food,  for  the  grass  was 
very  poor  and  scanty.  The  whole  party  had  become 
frightfully  reduced  in  strength,  and  began  to  think  it 
necessary  to  kill  some  of  their  animals,  which  at  this 
time  they  could  but  ill  spare.  In  this  terrible  condition 
they  met  with  a  band  of  Indians,  wrho  proved  to  be  of  a 
friendly  disposition.  The  party  was  then  only  about 
four  days'  journey  from  Fort  Hall.  Most  unhappily, 
the  Indians  themselves  possessed  but.  a  scanty  supply 
of  provisions,  and  no  more  than  their  immediate  wants 
required.  It  was  not  without  considerable  manoeuver- 
ing  and  talk,  during  which  all  the  skill  and  Indian  expe- 
rience possessed  by  Kit  Carson  were  brought  into  active 
requisition,  that  the  savages  were  prevailed  upon  to  trade 
with  the  trappers.  By  the  trade,  the  half-famished  men 
obtained  a  fat  horse,  which  was  immediately  killed,  and 
on  which  they  regaled  with  as  much  relish  as  the  epicure 
in  the  settlements  enjoys  his  "joint  of  roast  beef." 


132      IMMENSE    HERDS    OF    STARVING    BUFFALOES. 

season  advanced,  the  cold  became  more  severe,  until 
at  last,  it  was  more  intense  than  ever  before  experi- 
enced by  the  trappers  or  Indians.  Fuel,  however,  was 
abundant,  and,  excepting  the  inconvenience  of  keeping 
unusually  large  fires,  they  suffered  but  little.  Not  so 
with  their  animals.  It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty 
that  they  preserved  them  from  starvation.  By  the 
most  unwearied  exertions,  however,  they  succeeded  in 
obtaining  food  enough  barely  to  keep  them  alive  until 
the  weather  became  more  mild  and  auspicious.  At 
one  time  the  crisis  was  so  imminent,  that  the  trappers 
were  compelled  to  resort  to  cotton-wood  trees,  thawing 
the  bark  and  small  branches,  after  gathering  them,  by 
their  fires.  This  bark  was  torn  from  the  trees  in  shreds 
sufficiently  small  for  the  animals  to  masticate.  The 
Indians  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  when  suffering  from 
hunger,  are  often  driven  to  the  extremity  of  eating 
this  material.  For  miles,  not  unfrequently,  the  trav- 
eler discovers  these  trees  denuded  of  their  bark,  after  a 
party  has  passed  through  on  their  way  to  find  the  buf- 
falo. The  rough,  outside  cuticle  is  discarded,  and  the 
tender  texture,  next  to  the  body  of  the  tree,  is  the  part 
selected  for  food.  It  will  act  in  staying  the  appetite, 
but  cannot,  for  any  great  length  of  time,  support  life. 
It  is  dangerous  to  allow  starving  animals  to  eat 
freely  of  it;  the  trappers,  therefore,  fed  it  to  them 
but  sparingly. 

The  intense  cold  operated  to  bring  upon  them 
another  serious  annoyance,  in  the  shape  of  immense 
herds  of  starving  buffalo,  which,  goaded  on  by  the 
pangs  of  hunger,  would  watch  for  an  opportunity  to 
gore  the  animals  and  steal  their  scanty  allowance  of 
provender.  It  was  only  by  building  large  fires  in  the 


UNEARTHLY  YELLS,  ASD  DESPERATE  COURAGE.    151 

treat.  They  did  so,  succeeding  in  joining  their  com- 
rades without  the  loss  of  a  single  man.  The  pursuit 
had  been  close  and  well  sustained  by  the  savages ; 
hence,  it  became  necessary  to  take  instant  measures  in 
order  to  insure  the  safety  of  the  advance.  Kit  Carson, 
who  was  the  commander  of  the  party,  after  quietly 
surveying  the  scene,  gave  orders  for  the  men,  with 
their  animals,  to  conceal  themselves,  as  best  they  could 
in  the  brush.  His  orders  had  been  issued  but  just  in 
time,  for  the  concealment  was  barely  attained,  when 
the  Indians  were  upon  them.  They  were  received 
with  a  well-directed  volley  from  the  rifles  of  the  little 
party,  which  brought  down  several  of  the  fierce  assail- 
ants. They  recoiled  and  retreated  for  a  moment.  The 
moment  was  golden  to  the  few  white  men.  Like  men 
who  were  fighting  for  their  lives,  but  who  were  cool 
in  danger,  they  made  no  mistakes  in  reloading  their 
rifles.  They  were  but  just  ready,  however,  for  the  sec- 
ond charge.  This  time  the  savages  came  on  with  un- 
earthly yells  and  desperate  courage,  seemingly  well 
satisfied  that  before  them  stood  the  men  whose  faithful 
rifle-talk  they  had  heard  before.  Kit  warned  his  men 
to  keep  cool  and  fire  as  if  shooting  game,  a  warning 
which  was  entirely  unnecessary,  for  the  result  was  that 
the  savages  were  again  driven  back  with  a  brave  bleed- 
ing or  dying  for  nearly  every  shot  fired.  It  was  very 
fortunate  that  Kit  had  chosen  this  position,  for  the  en- 
gagement lasted  nearly  the  entire  day.  The  loss  on 
the  part  of  the  Indians  was  very  severe.  They  did 
everything  in  their  power  to  force  Kit  and  his  party 
from  their  cover,  but  without  avail.  Every  time  they 
attempted  to  charge  into  the  thicket  the  same  deadly 
volley  was  poured  in  with  never-failing  aim,  which  in- 


HUNTER    TO   TIIE   FOKT.  167 


OHAPTEE  VII. 

Kit  Carson  is  employed  as  Hunter  to  Bent's  Fort — His  career  for  Eight 
Years — Messrs.  Bent  and  St.  Vrain — The  Commencement  of  his  Ac- 
quaintance with  John  C.  Fremont  on  a  Steamboat — Is  employed  as  a 
Guide  by  the  Great  Explorer — The  Journey — Arrival  at  Fort  Lara- 

mie — Indian  Difficulties The  business  of  the  Expedition  completed 

— Return  to  Fort  Laramie — Kit  Carson  goes  to  Taos  and  is  m.-irried 
— He  is  employed  as  Hunter  to  a  Train  of  Wagons  bound  for  the 
States — Meeting  with  Captain  Cook  and  four  companies  of  U.  S. 
Dragoons  on  Walnut  Creek — Mexicans  in  Trouble — Kit  Carson  car- 
ries a  letter  for  them  to  Santa  Fe — Indians  on  the  route — His  safe 
Arrival — Amijos'  advance  Guard  massacred  by  the  Texans — The  one 
Survivor — The  Retreat — Kit  Carson  returns  to  Bent's  Fort — His  Ad- 
ventures with  the  Utahs  and  narrow  escape  from  Death — The  Tex- 
ans disarmed — The  Express  Ride  performed. 

IT  has  already  appeared  that  Kit  Carson  was  now  at 
Bent's  Fort ;  also,  that  his  occupation  as  a  trapper  of 
beaver  had  become  unprofitable.  His  services  were, 
however,  immediately  put  into  requisition  by  Messrs. 
Bent  and  St.  Yrain,  the  proprietors  of  what  was  called 
Bent's  Fort,  which  was  a  trading-post  kept  by  those 
gentlemen.  The  position  which  he  accepted  was  that 
of  hunter  to  the  Fort.  This  office  he  filled  from  that 
time  with  the  most  undeviating  fidelity  and  prompti- 
tude for  eight  consecutive  years.  During  all  of  this 
long  period  not  a  single  word  of  disagreement  passed 
between  him  and  his  employers,  which  fact  shows  better 
than  mere  words  that  his  duty  was  faithfully  and  satis- 
factorily performed.  It  is  but  seldom  that  such  a  fact 


174  KIT    CARSON   MARRIED. 

forced,  against  our  own  conviction  of  the  duty  we  owe 
the  public  as  Kit  Carson's  chosen  biographer,  to  pass 
by  all  such  acts  of  his  personal  daring  and  triumph,  be- 
cause of  his  own  unwillingness  to  relate  them  for  pub- 
lication. Notwithstanding  our  urgent  requests,  backed 
up  by  the  advice  and  interference  of  friends,  Kit  Car- 
son was  inflexibly  opposed  to  relating  such  acts  of  him- 
self. He  was  even  more  willing  to  speak  of  his  failures, 
though  such  were  few,  rather  than  of  his  victories  in 
the  chase.  While  the  description  of  these  adventures 
could  not  fail  to  furnish  useful  and  interesting  data, 
most  unfortunately,  Kit  Carson  considered  that  they 
were  uninteresting  minutiae  which  pertained  to  the 
every-day  business  of  his  life,  and  no  persuasion  could 
induce  him  to  enter  upon  their  relation.  Not  so  when 
he  was  entertaining  some  of  the  brave  chiefs  of  the 
Indian  nations,  whose  friendship  he  had  won  by  his 
brave  deeds.  If  they  were  his  guests,  or  he  himself 
theirs,  then  their  delight  to  hear  kindled  a  pride  in  his 
breast  to  relate.  He  knew  that  he  would  not  by  them 
be  called  a  boaster. 

Before  quitting  the  Mountains,  Kit  Carson  married 
an  Indian  girl,  to  whom  he  was  most  devotedly  at- 
tached. By  this  wife  he  had  one  child,  a  daughter. 
Soon  after  the  birth  of  this  child,  his  wife  died.  His 
daughter  he  watched  over  with  the  greatest  solicitude. 
When  she  reached  a  suitable  age,  he  sent  her  to  St. 
Louis  for  the  purpose  of  giving  her  the  advantages  of 
a  liberal  education.  Indeed,  most  of  Kit  Carson's  hard 
earnings,  gained  while  he  was  a  hunter  on  the  Arkan- 
sas, were  devoted  to  the  advancement  of  his  child.  On 
arriving  at  maturity  she  married,  and  with  her  hus- 
band settled  in  California. 


178          HORRIBLE   BUTCHERY    OF    YOUNG    GIRLS. 

her  back  and  breast  as  far  as  her  waist,  to  march  before 
the  line  of  warriors,  within  ten  paces  of  their  front, 
and,  if  she  lived  to  reach  it,  take  possession  of  the 
crown.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was  the  duty  of  any 
warrior,  who  knew  aught  by  word  or  deed  against  the 
virtue  of  the  advancing  maiden,  to  kill  her  upon  the 
spot.  If  one  arrow  was  shot  at  her,  the  whole  band 
instantly  poured  a  flight  of  arrows  into  her  bare  and 
defenceless  bosom  until  life  was  extinct.  Again,  it 
was  the  belief  of  the  untutored  savage  that  whatever 
warrior  failed  to  make  his  knowledge  apparent,  if  he 
possessed  any,  by  sending  his  arrow  at  the  aspirant, 
would  always  be  an  object  of  revenge  by  the  Great 
Spirit,  both  here  and  hereafter ;  and,  that  he  would  al- 
ways live  in  the  hereafter,  in  sight  of  the  Happy  Hunt- 
ing Grounds,  but  never  be  allowed  to  enter  them. 
This  latter  belief  made  it  a  rare  thing  for  young  girls 
to  brave  the  attempt ;  but,  sometimes,  the  candidates 
were  numerous,  and  the  horrible  butchery  of  the 
young  girls  which  took  place  formed  a  terrible  expose 
of  their  lewdness.  To  kill  an  innocent  girl  was  equally 
a  matter  which  would  be  forever  avenged  by  the  Great 
Spirit. 

The  warm  friendship  which  sprang  up  between  Kit 
Carson  and  the  proprietors  of  Bent's  Fort,  under  whom 
he  held  his  situation  as  Hunter,  is  a  sufficient  index  of 
the  gentlemanly  conduct  and  amiability  of  heart  evinced 
towards  him  on  their  part.  The  names  of  Bent  and  St. 
Train  were  known  and  respected  far  and  near  in  the 
mountains,  for,  in  generosity,  hospitality,  and  native 
worth,  they  were  men  of  perfect  model. 

Mr.  Bent  was  appointed,  by  the  proper  authority,  the 
first  Civil  Governor  of  New  Mexico,  after  that  large 


MEETING    OF   FREMONT   AND    CARSON.  183 

Engineering,  about  to  enter  upon  the  exploration  of  in- 
land North  America. 

Kit  Carson  wandered  over  the  boat,  studying  its 
mechanism,  admiring  the  machinery,  which,  so  like  a 
thing  of  life,  subserved  the  interests  of  human  life  ; 
watched  with  quiet  reserve  the  faces  and  general  ap- 
pearance of  his  fellow-passengers  •  occasionally  modestly 
addressed  an  acquaintance,  for  some  present  were  known 
to  him  ;  and,  finally  singled  out  from  among  the  stran- 
gers a  man  on  whose  face  he  thought  he  discovered  the 
marks  of  true  courage,  manhood  and  nobility  of  charac- 
ter. The  impression  which  Kit  Carson  had  thus  re- 
ceived was  nothing  fleeting.  The  eagle  eye,  the  fore- 
head, the  form,  the  movements,  the  general  features, 
the  smile,  the  quiet  dignity  of  the  man,  each  and  all 
of  these  attributes  of  his  manhood  had  been  carefully 
noted  by  the  wary  and  hardy  mountaineer,  and  had 
not  failed  to  awaken  in  his  breast  a  feeling  of  admi- 
ration and  respect.  While  on  this  boat  Kit  Carson 
learned  the  fact  that  the  man  whom  he  had  thus  studied 
was  Lieut.  John  C.  Fremont  of  the  U.  S.  corps  of  topo- 
graphical engineers ;  also,  that  Lieutenant  Fremont  had 
been  earnestly  seeking  Captain  Drips,  an  experienced 
mountaineer,  but  that  he  had  been  disappointed  in 
finding  him.  Upon  learning  this,  Kit  Carson  fell 
into  a  deep  reverie  which  lasted  some  little  time,  when, 
having  brought  it  to  a  conclusion,  he  approached  Lieu- 
tenant Fremont  and  modestly  introducing  himself,  said  : 

"  Sir !  I  have  been  some  time  in  the  mountains  and 
think  I  can  guide  you  to  any  point  there  you  wish  to 
reach. " 

Lieutenant  Fremont's  answer  indicated  his  satisfac- 
tion in  making  the  acquaintance  which  Kit  Carson  had 
11 


190          READY   AND   WILLING    TO    FACE    DANGER. 

ion  expressed,  viz. :  that,  as  sure  as  he  entered  upon 
the  journey,  the  entire  party  would  be  massacred.  To 
all  these  admonitions  and  warnings  Colonel  Fremont 
had  but  one  reply.  His  government  had  directed  him 
to  perform  a  certain  duty.  The  obstacles  which  stood 
in  his  way,  it  was  his  duty  to  use  every  means  at  his 
command  to  surmount ;  therefore,  in  obedience  to  his 
instructions,  he  was  determined  to  continue  his  march. 
Finally  he  said  that  he  would  accomplish  the  object  or 
die  in  the  attempt,  being  quite  sure  that  if  the  expedi- 
tion failed  by  being  cut  to  pieces,  a  terrible  retribution 
would  be  in  store  for  the  perpetrators  of  the  act.  Kit 
Carson,  his  guide,  openly  avowed  that  the  future  looked 
dark  and  gloomy,  but  he  was  delighted  to  hear  this 
expression  from  his  commander.  He  now  felt  that  he 
had  a  man  after  his  own  heart  to  depend  on,  and  should 
danger  or  inevitable  death  be  in  store  for  them,  he  was 
ready  and  willing  to  face  either  with  him.  In  order  to 
be  prepared  for  the  worst,  Kit  Carson  felt  it  his  duty, 
considering  the  dangers  apprehended,  to  make  his  will, 
thereby  showing  that  if  he  had  to  fight  he  was  ready 
to  count  it  his  last  battle.  Colonel  Fremont  resumed 
his  journey,  and  very  fortunately  arrived  at  the  South 
Pass  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  without,  in  any  way,  be- 
ing annoyed  with  Indians,  not  even  meeting  any  on 
the  route. 

He  had  now  reached  the  field  where  his  chief  labors 
were  to  commence.  Without  loss  of  time  he  set  ear- 
nestly about  his  work,  making  and  recording  such  ob- 
servations as  he  deemed  to  be  essential,  and  examining 
and  exploring  the  country.  Having  finished  this  part 
of  his  labors,  the  ascent  of  the  highest  peak  of  the 
mountains  was  commenced.  The  length  of  the  journey 


BUFFALO   HUNT.  — PAGE   173. 


220         FEEMOXT'S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  AFFAIK. 

power  of  man  to  do,  set  out  to  return  and  soon  rejoined 
their  friends,  whom  they  found  anxiously  waiting  for 
them.  Colonel  Fremont  concludes  his  account  of  this 
affair  in  the  following  words : 

"  Their  object  accomplished,  our  men  gathered  up 
all  the  surviving  horses,  fifteen  in  number,  returned 
upon  their  trail,  and  rejoined  us  at  our  camp  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  same  day.  They  had  rode  about  one 
hundred  miles  in  the  pursuit  and  return,  and  all  in 
thirty  hours.  The  time,  place,  object,  and  numbers 
considered,  this  expedition  of  Carson  and  Godey  may 
be  considered  among  the  boldest  and  most  disinterested 
which  the  annals  of  western  adventure,  so  full  of  dar- 
ing deeds,  can  present.  Two  men,  in  a  savage  desert, 
pursue  day  and  night  an  unknown  body  of  Indians 
into  the  defiles  of  an  unknown  mountain — attack  them 
on  sight,  without  counting  numbers — and  defeat  them 
in  an  instant — and  for  what  ?  To  punish  the  robbers 
of  the  desert,  and  to  avenge  the  wrongs  of  Mexicans 
whom  they  did  not  know.  I  repeat:  it  was  Carson 
and  Godey  who  did  this — the  former  an  American, 
born  in  Kentucky;  the  latter  a  Frenchman  by  descent, 
born  in  St.  Louis ;  and  both  trained  to  western  enter- 
prise from  early  life." 

The  stolen  property  was  restored  to  the  Mexicans 
without  one  cent  being  demanded  or  received  by  either 
Carson  or  Godey. 

It  was  not  for  the  love  of  Indian  fighting,  as  many 
may  suppose,  that  Kit  Carson  was  moved  to  take  part 
in  such  expeditions ;  but,  when  the  life  of  a  fellow- 
creature  was  exposed  to  Indian  barbarities,  no  living 
man  was  more  willing,  or  more  capable  of  rendering  a 
lasting  service  than  Christopher  Carson.  A  name  that, 


THE    DIGGER    INDIAN.  223 

of  the  party,  they  were  near  enough  to  civilization. 
The  command  was  dissolved,  and  Colonel  Fremont  pro- 
ceeded on  his  route  to  Washington.  Kit  Carson,  about 
the  same  time,  started  for  Taos,  where  he  had  been  for 
a  long  time  anxiously  expected  by  his  family  and 
friends. 

During  this  expedition,  they  had  met,  for  the  first 
time,  that  most  abject  of  human  beings,  the  "  Digger." 
The  Digger  Indians,  inhabiting  the  Great  Basin,  are  of 
the  very  lowest  form  of  humanity.  Dispersed  in  single 
families,  without  fire-arms,  eating  seeds  and  insects  and 
digging  roots  (and  hence  their  name),  such  is  the  con- 
dition of  the  greater  part.  It  seems  incredible  that  a 
desert  so  devoid  of  all  nourishment,  could  have  native 
inhabitants.  Yet  such  is  the  fact.  When  the  few 
edible  roots  that  grow  in  low  grounds  or  marshy  places 
fail  them,  they  subsist  by  hunting  crickets,  "  hoppers," 
and  field  mice. 

Nothing  can  be  more  abject  than  the  ap'pearance  of 
the  Digger  Indian  in  the  fall,  as  he  roams  about  with- 
out food,  almost  naked,  and  without  weapons,  save, 
perhaps,  a  bow  and  arrows,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon 
the  ground,  looking  for  crickets,  with  which  to  appease 
his  ever  present  appetite.  So  despicable  is  he  that  he 
has  neither  friends  or  enemies,  and  the  neighboring 
tribes  do  not  condescend  to  notice  his  existence,  unless 
he  should  happen  to  come  in  their  way,  when  they 
would  not  consider  it  more  than  a  playful  diversion  to 
put  an  end  to  his  miserable  life.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that, 
with  the  rapid  advance  of  civilization,  this  degraded 
race  may  be  brought  into  a  happier  state. 

Colonel  Fremont,  in  his  beautiful  and  instructive 
description  of  the  country  through  which  this  expe- 


A  PERILOUS   PASSAGE  DOWN  THE  PLATTE. 


234  PUEBLO    INDIANS. 

the  ground  until  a  favorable  opportunity  offered  to 
steal  them  into  the  country.  When  there  was  great 
danger  that  these  secreted  goods  would  be  discovered, 
the  smugglers  would  so  arrange  a  keg  of  powder  with 
a  loaded  pistol  pointing  at  it,  with  strings  running  to 
the  shrubbery  near  by,  so  as  to  cause  it  to  explode 
and  kill  the  searchers  should  the  bushes  about  be  dis- 
turbed. One  old  smuggler  once  fixed  things  in  this 
manner,  but  performed  his  task  too  well ;  for,  on  going 
to  remove  his  property,  he  came  very  near  blowing 
himself  up,  as  the  mine  was  sprung  and  he  was  thrown 
in  the  air,  but  miraculously  escaped.  Many  of  the 
adventures  of  these  men  would  be  interesting ;  but 
they  are  too  voluminous  to  be  embodied  in  our  work. 
The  valley  of  Taos  is  well  watered  by  mountain  streams 
which  flow  into  the  Rio  Grande.  On  one  of  these 
creeks  and  near  the  mountains,  to  the  east  of  Fernan- 
dez de  Taos,  is  located  an  Indian  Pueblo  which  is  very 
interesting  to  the  traveler.  Its  houses  are  built  one 
on  top  of  another  until  a  sort  of  pyramid  is  formed. 
The  people  enter  their  respective  domiciles  through 
the  roofs,  which  form  a  kind  of  steps.  At  the  foot  of 
this  queer  building  there  is  a  church ;  and  around,  the 
scenery  is  very  picturesque,  as  the  wrhole  is  bounded 
on  one  side  by  a  gap  in  the  mountains,  while  on  the 
other  is  the  open  valley.  This  band  of  Indians  at  first 
offered  great  resistance  and  fought  with  much  bravery 
against  the  United  States ;  but  now  they  are  counted 
among  its  most  faithful  allies,  and  are  great  in  their 
admiration  of  Kit  Carson.  The  farming  utensils  of 
the  New  Mexicans  are  rude  in  the  extreme  ;  but  the 
agricultural  implements  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  are  slowly 
replacing  these  articles.  The  old  plow,  as  frequently 


262  FIGHT    WITH   KLAMATH   INDIANS. 

also,  their  commanding  officer  thought  it  best,  while 
the  opportunity  offered,  for  the  benefit  of  his  country- 
men, whom  he  felt  sure  would  some  day  possess  this 
territory,  to  impress  these  savages  with  the  power  and 
bravery  of  the  white  men.  Whatever  was  the  object 
to  be  gained,  it  matters  not  in  relating  the  particulars. 
The  next  morning  he  sent  Kit  Carson  on  ahead,  with 
ten  chosen  men,  giving  him  orders  to  the  effect  that  if 
he  discovered  a  large  village  of  Indians,  which  was  the 
general  surmise,  without  being  himself  seen,  he  was  to 
send  back  word,  when  he  (Fremont)  would  hasten  on 
with  re-inforcements,  in  order  to  make  the  assault.  If  it 
should  happen  that  the  Indians  were  the  first  to  be  ap- 
prised of  his  near  approach,  then,  without  delay,  Carson 
was  to  engage  them  as  he  thought  best.  Acting  under 
these  instructions,  Kit  Carson,  with  his  detail  of  men, 
set  out,  and  fortunately  soon  found  a  fresh  trail  that 
led  directly  to  where  the  savages  had  established  their 
village.  This  Indian  village  numbered  fifty  lodges; 
and  to  each  wigwam  the  mountaineers  estimated  three 
braves,  as  this  is  the  complement  of  men  who  live  in 
one  of  these  huts  on  the  prairies  and  in  the  Kocky 
Mountains,  thus  making  the  force  of  the  Indians  to  be 
in  the  neighborhood  of  one  hundred  and  fifty.  From  the 
commotion  noticed  in  the  village  it  was  evident  to  all 
present  that  the  tribe  had  become  aware  of  danger,  and 
that  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost  in  sending  back  the 
desired  information.  Kit  Carson,  notwithstanding  the 
strength  of  his  enemies,  determined  to  hazard  an  attack; 
and,  after  a  brief  consultation  with  his  companions,  he 
decided  to  take  advantage  of  the  confusion  that  was  ex- 
isting among  the  red  men  by  charging  right  in  among 
them.  If  ever  there  is  a  time  when  Indians  will  stand 


264  WATCHING   IN   THE   LAVA-BEDS. 

truth."  The  gloom  which  had  prevailed  over  the 
party,  while  the  men  recounted  to  their  friends  the 
details  of  the  fight,  was  temporarily  dispelled ;  and, 
while  thus  engaged,  the  command  moved  on  about 
two  miles  from  the  Indian  village.  Having  here 
selected  a  site,  they  went  into  camp.  After  comfort- 
ably stowing  themselves  away  in  this  resting-place, 
another  "  war  talk  "  was  called,  and  what  was  best  to 
be  done  was  canvassed  over.  After  the  adjournment 
of  the  council,  Fremont  decided  to  send  back  twenty 
men,  under  Richard  Owens,  to  the  neighborhood  of 
the  ruins  of  the  village,  there  to  conceal  themselves  in 
the  Lava-beds  and  await  the  return  of  the  Indians, 
who,  it  was  thought,  might  come  back  to  look  after 
their  dead. 

The  Lava-beds  are  located  in  the  country  along  the 
boundaries  of  Oregon  and  California,  and  near  the 
Klamath  River  and  Lakes.  It  is  cut  up  by  fissures, 
abysses,  lakes,  high  mountains  and  caves,  and  covers 
an  area  of  one  hundred  square  miles.  Here  and  there 
are  vales  bounded  by  walls  more  than  one  thousand 
feet  high,  composed  of  dark  lava-like  trap  or  red  scoria, 
the  interval  between  which  forms  a  sort  of  congealed 
sea,  whose  ragged,  crested  waves,  with  volcanic  ori- 
fices, seem  to  have  been  frozen  in  the  upheaval,  and 
never  had  time  to  subside.  The  miniature  vents  or 
chimneys,  which  had  been  formed  no  doubt  by  the 
bursting  of  steam  or  gases  from  below,  led  to  subter- 
ranean galleries  or  caverns,  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet 
wide  and  of  indefinite  length. 

Our  party  had  not  been  secreted  a  great  while  be- 
fore about  fifty  savages  returned,  and,  by  the  moon's 
light,  were  quite  visible.  As  had  been  previously 


296  AGONIZING   SUSPENSE. 

by  one  of  the  sentinels  riding  up  near  to  where  they 
were,  dismounting  from  his  horse  and  lighting,  by  his 
flint  and  steel,  his  cigarette.  On  seeing  this,  Kit  Car- 
son, who  was  just  ahead  of  Lieutenant  Beale,  pushed 
back  his  foot  and  kicked  softly  his  companion,  as  a  sig- 
nal for  him  to  lie  flat  on  the  ground  as  he  (Carson)  was 
doing.  The  Mexican  was  some  time,  being  apparently 
very  much  at  his  leisure,  in  lighting  his  cigaretto ;  and, 
during  these  moments  of  suspense,  so  quietly  did  Kit  Car- 
son and  his  companion  lie  on  the  ground,  that  Carson  said, 
and  always  after  affirmed,  that  he  could  distinctly  hear 
Lieutenant  Beale's  heart  pulsate.  Who  can  describe 
the  agony  of  mind  to  which  these  brave  hearts  were 
subjected  during  this  severe  trial.  Everything — the 
lives  of  their  friends  as  well  as  their  own — so  hung  on 
chance,  that  they  shuddered ;  not  at  the  thought  of 
dying,  but  for  fear  they  would  fail  in  accomplishing 
what  was  dearer  to  them  than  life,  the  rescue  of  the 
brave  men  whose  lives  hung  on  their  success.  After 
quite  a  long  time,  the  Mexican,  as  if  guided  by  the 
hand  of  Providence,  mounted  his  horse  and  made  off  in 
a  contrary  direction  from  the  one  where  these  bold  ad- 
venturers were  biding  their  time  to  accept  either  good, 
if  possible,  or  evil,  if  necessary,  from  the  wheel  of  for- 
tune. For  a  distance  of  about  two  miles,  Kit  Carson 
and  Lieutenant  Beale  thus  worked  along  on  their  hands 
and  knees.  Continually,  during  this  time,  Kit  Carson's 
eagle  eye  was  penetrating  through  the  darkness,  ever 
on  the  alert  to  discover  whatever  obstacle  might  pre- 
sent itself  on  which  was  stamped  the  least  appearance 
of  danger.  Having  passed  the  last  visible  image  in 
the  shape  of  a  sentinel  and  left  the  lines  behind  them 
at  a  suitable  distance,  both  men  regained  their  feet, 


TERRIBLE    SUFFERING.  297 

and  once  more  breathed  freely.  Their  first  thought 
was  to  look  for  their  shoes,  but,  alas,  they  were  gone. 
In  the  excitement  of  the  journey,  they  had  not  given 
them  a  thought  since  depositing  them  beneath  their 
belts.  Hardly  a  word  had  hitherto  passed  between 
these  two  companions  in  danger,  but  now  they  spoke 
hurriedly  and  congratulated  each  other  on  the  success 
that  so  far  had  attended  them,  and  thanked  God  in 
their  hearts  that  He  had  so  mercifully  aided  them. 
There  was  no  time  for  delay,  as  they  were  by  no 
means  yet  free  from  danger,  though  they  thought  that 
the  worst  was  over.  Kit  Carson  was  familiar  with  the 
country,  and  well  knew  the  necessity  of  avoiding,  for 
fear  of  being  discovered,  all  the  well  trodden  trails  and 
roads  which  lead  to  San  Diego,  everyone  of  which  was 
closely  watched  by  the  enemy.  He  chose  a  circuitous 
route,  over  rocks,  hills  and  wild  lands.  The  soil  was 
lined  with  the  prickly  pear,  the  thorns  of  which  were 
penetrating,  at  almost  every  step,  deep  into  their  bare 
feet,  which,  owing  to  the  darkness  and  thickness  of  the 
plants,  they  could  not  avoid.  The  town  of  San  Diego 
was  located  many  miles  in  a  straight  line  from  the 
point  from  whence  they  had  started,  but,  by  the  round- 
about route  they  were  obliged  to  travel,  this  distance 
was  much  lengthened.  All  the  following  day  they 
continued  their  tramp  and  made  as  much  progress  as 
possible.  Their  mental  excitement  kept  them  in  good 
spirits,  though,  from  previous  fatigue,  the  want  of  food 
during  this  time,  and  by  the  rapid  pace  at  which  they 
were  traveling,  they  were  putting  their  physical  powers 
to  their  full  test.  Another  night  closed  in  around  them, 
yet  "  ONWARD  "  was  their  watchword,  for  they  thought 
not  of  rest  while  those  behind  them  were  in  such  im- 


KIT    CARSON   IN    WASHINGTON".  305 

tions.  It  was  very  dark,  and  the  Indians,  from  the 
above  precautions  being  taken,  were  frustrated  in  their 
plans.  His  men  lay  very  still ;  and,  having  previously 
received  the  order  so  to  do,  they  awaited  the  near  ap- 
proach of  the  red  men,  when  they  were  to  use  their 
rifles  as  clubs.  The  reason  which  made  this  latter 
command  best  was,  because  no  man  could  see  to  shoot ; 
hence,  were  they  to  fire  at  random,  they  would  only 
expend  their  ammunition,  a  loss  they  were  in  no  situa- 
tion to  sustain.  However,  the  Indians  became  weary 
of  their  shooting  after  a  few  hours,  and  did  not  hazard 
a  close  attack,  but  went  away  to  parts  unknown. 

Kit  Carson  and  Lieutenant  Beale  arrived  at  Wash- 
ington in  the  following  June,  having  accomplished  their 
journey  overland,  a  distance  of  nearly  4,000  miles,  in 
about  three  months,  a  record  which  shows  that  they 
had  not  been  idle  while  on  the  route.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  the  Indian  attack  sustained  on  the  Gila,  they 
wrere  not  again  annoyed  by  the  red  men,  although  over 
the  vast  tract  of  wild  territory  which  they  had  traversed 
there  roam  thousands  of  savages  who  often,  for  the 
slightest  pretext,  and  frequently  without  any  reason 
whatever,  will  murder  the  unsuspecting  traveler,  as  it 
chances  to  please  them.  Hence,  to  accomplish  this 
journey,  it  was  not  only  necessary  to  know  the  direc- 
tion to  shape  their  course,  but  also  to  be  familiar  with 
the  haunts  and  habits  of  these  various  tribes,  in  order 
to  avoid  them.  All  of  this  knowledge  Kit  Carson,  the 
mainspring  of  this  little  party,  was  well  possessed  of, 
and,  as  a  matter  of  business,  guided  himself  and  men 
in  a  direct  and  safe  course. 

The  hardships  and  privations  of  this  trip  were  trivial 
affairs  when  compared  to  most  of  Kit  Carson's  previous 


A  MEXICAN  CART. 


THE  PUEBLO   OF  TAOS. 


STIMULATING   SIGNS.  341 

everything  would  have  been  considered  as  well  done; 
but  he  failed,  and  the  cause  of  his  failure  is  plain. 

The  party  being  thus  constituted,  and  no  delay  hav- 
ing been  occasioned  by  any  unforeseen  accident,  the 
party  arrived  in  good  season  at  the  place  where  the 
cold-blooded  murder  had  been  consummated.  Around 
the  spot,  there  were  strewn,  in  great  confusion,  boxes, 
trunks,  pieces  of  harness,  and  many  other  things,  which 
had  belonged  to  the  unfortunate  party,  and  which  the 
villains  did  not  fancy  and  carry  away  with  them.  The 
path  taken  by  these  Indians  was  soon  found,  and  on  it, 
the  command  traveled  in  full  chase  for  twelve  days, 
without  seeing  the  outline  of  a  savage.  Carson  de- 
scribes this  as  being  the  most  difficult  trail  to  follow  he 
remembers  ever  to  have  undertaken,  for  the  rascally 
Apaches,  on  breaking  up  their  camps,  would  divide  into 
parties  of  two  and  three,  and  then  scatter  over  the  vast 
expanse  of  the  prairies  to  meet  again  at  some  precon- 
certed place,  where  they  knew  water  could  be  had.  In 
several  of  these  camps  the  pursuers  found  remnants  of 
dress  and  other  articles,  that  were  known  to  have  be- 
longed to  Mrs.  White.  By  these  signs,  they  were  led 
to  believe  that  she  still  lived.  Although  these  things 
would  have  been  trifles  on  ordinary  occasions,  yet,  at 
the  present  time,  they  were  the  cause  of  stimulating 
the  white  men  to  their  utmost  exertions ;  and,  as  they 
grew  fresher,  the  excitement  among  the  party  in- 
creased. At  last  the  camp,  and  even  the  per.^ons  of 
the  savages,  became  visible  to  the  foremost  of  the  pur- 
suers ;  and,  among  the  first  to  get  a  glimpse  of  them 
was  Kit  Carson.  At  the  time  the  discovery  was  made, 
Kit  Carson  was  considerably  in  advance  of  most  of  the 
men.  Turning  to  those  near  him,  he  shouted  to  have 


20 


366  KIT   CARSON  BEACHES    HOME. 


OHAPTEE  XIY. 

Kit  Carson  reaches  Home — Himself  and  Neighbors  Robbed  by  the  Apaches 
— Major  Grier  goes  in  Pursuit  of,  and  Recaptures  the  stolen  Stock — 
A  Plot  organized  by  White  Men  to  Murder  two  Santa  Fe  Traders  for 
their  Money — The  Disclosure — Kit  Carson  goes  to  the  rescue  of  the 
Traders — The  Camp  of  United  States  Recruits — Captain  Ewell  with 
twenty  Men  joins  Kit  Carson — The  Arrest  of  Fox — Gratitude  ex- 
pressed by  the  Traders — Money  Offered  but  Refused — The  Prisoner 
taken  to  Taos  and  Incarcerated — Kit  Carson  receives  a  Magnificent 
Pair  of  Revolvers  as  a  Present  from  the  grateful  Traders — The  Re- 
turn to  Rayado — A  Trading  Expedition  to  the  United  States — The 
Return  Journey — An  Encounter  with  the  Cheyenne  Indians — A  State 
of  Suspense — The  Deliverance  from  Danger  by  a  Message  sent  by  a 
Mexican  Runner — The  arrival  at  Rayado. 

AFTER  finishing  the  pleasant  visit  which  he  was  thus 
enabled  to  make,  while  recruiting  himself  among  the 
good  people  of  Taos,  Kit  Carson  bent  his  way  to  his 
home  at  Rayado.  He  safely  reached  there  and  had 
but  just  dismounted  at  his  own  door,  when  he  was  in- 
formed of  a  recent  calamity  that  had  befallen  himself 
and  neighbors  during  his  absence.  It  was  the  old  story, 
viz.,  that  the  Indians  had  come  in  and  boldly  stolen  all 
the  animals  belonging  to  the  settlement.  At  the  time 
this  depredation  had  been  committed,  there  was  a  small 
detachment  of  United  States  troops  stationed  in  the 
place,  but  the  soldiers  were  too  few  in  number  to  at- 
tempt a  rescue  of  the  property  from  the  savages.  The 
latter  had  visited  the  little  town  with  a  strong  force 
on  this  occasion ;  the  settlers,  therefore,  made  applica- 


A  moment  more  and  in  all  probability  Kit  Carson  would  have  been  breathing  his 
last.  Fremont  saw  the  danger  his  friend  was  in,  although  Kit  had  tried  to  avoid  the 
arrow  by  throwing  himself  on  one  side  of  his  horse. — PAGE  267. 


384  "TICKLISH  TIMES." 

did  it,  too.  With  any  other  man,  we  would  have  gone 
under.  The  Indians  were  more  afraid  of  him  than  all 
the  rest  of  us  put  together.  There  were  red  fellows 
enough  there  to  eat  us  up,  and  at  one  time  I  could 
almost  feel  my  hair  leaving  my  head.  We  had  two 
women  traveling  with  us,  and  their  crying  made  me 
feel  so  bad  that  I  was  sartin  there  was  no  fight  in  me. 
Women  (he  added)  are  poor  plunder  to  have  along 
when  going  out  on  a  war  party,  but  Kit  talked  to 
them,  and  then  to  the  Indians,  and  put  them  both 
finally  on  the  right  trail.  Wah ! !  but  them  were 
ticklish  times." 

As  soon  as  the  Indians,  in  their  excitement,  began 
to  speak  their  own  language,  they  became  very  vio- 
lent, and  so  unguarded  were  they  in  expressing  their 
individual  sentiments  that  they  treated  Kit  and  his 
party  with  perfect  indifference,  and  openly,  though  se- 
cretly as  they  thought,  arranged  for  the  massacre. 

Little  did  they  imagine  that  Kit  Carson,  whom  they 
had  at  first  sight  selected  as  the  leader  of  the  company, 
understood  every  word  that  was  said.  Kit  listened  at- 
tentively to  their  plans  and  heard  them  decide  that  the 
time  to  kill  him  was,  when  he  again  took  the  pipe  to 
smoke ;  for,  in  so  doing,  he  would  lay  down  his  weap- 
ons. They  could  be  instantly  seized,  and  therefore  he 
would  be  prevented  from  doing  them  any  harm.  As 
to  the  Mexicans  who  accompanied  him,  they  said  they 
could  kill  them  as  easily  they  could  buffalo.  Already 
enough  had  passed  among  the  Indians  to  arouse  in  Kit 
Carson's  breast  the  greatest  feeling  of  alarm  as  to  what 
would  be  the  result  of  the  position  in  which  he  was 
placed.  He  had  with  him  fifteen  men,  two  only  of 
which  number,  were  men  on  whom  he  felt  that  he  could 


394  THE   LAST   TKAPPIHG   EXPEDITION. 


CHAPTEE    XV. 

Kit  Carson's  last  Trapping  Expedition— He  Embarks  in  a  Speculation — 
His  Trip  to  California  with  a  large  Flock  of  Sheep — The  Methods  em- 
ployed by  Mexicans  in  driving  Herds  and  their  Dexterity — Kit  Carson 
goes  to  San  Francisco — Its  wonderful  Growth — Maxwell  joins  Kit 
Carson  at  Sacramento  City — The  Lucky  Speculation — The  Return 
Trip  to  New  Mexico  and  its  Adventures — The  Mormon  Delegate  to 
Congress  informs  Kit  Carson  of  his  Appointment  as  Indian  Agent — 
Kit  Carson  enters  upon  the  Duties  of  his  Office — Bell's  Fight  with  the 
Apaches  on  Red  River — Kit  Carson's  Interview  with  the  same  Indians — 
High-handed  Measures  on  the  Part  of  the  Apaches — Davidson's  Des- 
perate Fight  with  them — The  Soldiers  defeated  with  Severe  Loss — 
Davidson's  Bravery  is  unjustly  Questioned — Kit  Carson's  Opinion  of 
it — The  Apaches  elated  by  their  Victory — Their  Imitations  of  the  Ac- 
tions of  Military  Men. 

THE  expedition  into  the  United  States,  which  termi- 
nated with  the  last  chapter,  proved  to  be  valuable  in 
its  results,  so  far  as  the  parties  engaged  in  it  were  con- 
cerned. Kit  Carson  was  once  more  trying  hard  to 
keep  quiet  in  his  comfortable  home  at  Rayado.  But 
his  restless  spirit  was  not  proof  against  this  inactivity. 
His  stay  at  home,  therefore,  was  short.  The  memories 
of  other  days  came  upon  him,  and  he  longed  once  more 
to  enjoy,  in  company  with  the  "  friends  of  his  youth," 
the  scenes,  excitements  and  pleasures  of  his  old  life  as 
trapper.  Throughout  his  eventful  life,  as  the  reader 
has  been  able  clearly  to  see,  Kit  Carson  seldom  spent 
his  time  in  idle  thinking.  His  thoughts  almost  invari- 
ably took  form  in  actions.  This  eager  longing  resulted, 


418  A   ROUGH   AND   RUGGED   ROAD. 

While  pursuing  this  experimental  journey.  Kit  Car- 
son, who  was  well  acquainted  with  the  general  outline 
of  the  country,  but  was  not  equally  conversant  with  it 
in  reference  to  the  certainty  of  finding  eligible  camp- 
ing-sites, where  wood,  water  and  grass,  presented  them- 
selves in  abundance,  was  frequently  made  the  subject 
of  a  tantalizing  joke  by  the  men  of  the  party. 

Occasionally  his  memory  would  not  solve  the  ques- 
tion, what  is  the  next  course  ?  He  had  neither  map, 
chart,  nor  compass,  and  depended  entirely  upon  old 
landmarks.  Occasionally  the  resemblance  of  different 
mountains,  one  to  another,  would  serve  to  embarrass 
him.  For  a  time,  he  would  become  doubtful  as  to  the 
exact  course  to  pursue.  At  such  moments,  the  mis- 
chievous dispositions  of  the  men  would  get  the  better 
of  their  judgment,  and  they  would  exert  their  lungs 
in  shouting  to  him,  as  he  spurred  his  riding  animal  to 
keep  out  of  the  sound  of  their  raillery.  He  was  not 
always  successful  in  this,  and  occasionally  a  few  sen- 
tences reached  him  like  the  following : 

«  Hurrah !  " 

"  I  say !  are  you  the  famous  Kit  Carson,  who  knows 
this  country  so  well  ?  " 

"Are  you  really  a  good  pilot,  or  are  you  lost  ?  " 

These  and  similar  expressions  saluted  Kit's  ear — a 
language  to  which  he  had  not  been  heretofore  accus- 
tomed— as  some  impediment,  such  as  a  fallen  tree,  a 
rock,  a  swamp,  or  a  creek  staid,  for  a  brief  period, 
his  progress,  thus  allowing  the  party  to  approach 
within  speaking  distance.  The  remarks  might  have 
temporarily  chafed  his  spirit ;  but  he  had  too  much 
good  sense  to  allow  his  friends  to  see  that  they  had 
gained  any  advantage  over  him.  He  rode  boldly  on, 


A   FRESH    CAMPAIGN.  441 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

A  fresh  Campaign  set  on  foot — Colonel  Cook  in  Command — Kit  Carson 
goes  as  Guide — The  Apaches  and  Utahs  leagued  together — The  Rough- 
ness of  the  Country  and  the  Privations  to  which  the  Command  was 
exposed — The  Indians  overhauled — A  running  Fight — The  Advantages 
gained — The  Chase  resumed — The  Apaches  resort  to  their  old  Tricks 
— Colonel  Cook  is  obliged  to  return  to  Abiquiu — A  Utah  taken  Pris- 
oner through  Mistake — Kit  Carson  goes  to  Taos  and  has  a  Conference 
with  the  Chiefs  of  the  Utah  Nation — Cook's  second  Scout — He  is 
caught  in  a  furious  Snow-storm  and  is  obliged  to  return  to  Rio  Col- 
orado— Major  Brooks  and  Re-inforcernents  come  to  the  Rescue — Major 
Brooks  on  the  Lookout,  but  fails  to  find  the  Indians — Carleton's  Ex- 
pedition— Kit  Carson  goes  with  it  as  Guide — The  Adventures  met 
with — Kit  Carson's  Prophecy  comes  true — The  Muache  Band  of  Utahs 
summoned  by  Kit  Carson  to  a  Grand  Council — Troubles  brewing 
among  these  Indians — The  Small-Pox  carries  off  their  Head  Men. 

To  retrieve  the  ground  lost,  and  also,  to  show  the 
Jiccarilla  Apaches  that  their  recent  victory  had  tended 
only  to  stimulate  the  movements  of  the  Americans  to  a 
display  of  greater  activity  and  energy,  after  a  brief 
space  of  time,  a  large  body  of  regular  troops  were  made 
ready  to  take  the  field  against  them.  The  commander 
of  this  expedition  was  Colonel  Cook  of  the  Second  Eegi- 
ment  of  United  States  Dragoons.  That  officer  chose 
for  his  principal  guide  Kit  Carson,  whose  peace  duties 
as  Indian  Agent  had  been  abruptly  arrested  by  the  war- 
like attitude  of  some  of  his  Indians.  It  was  necessary, 
also,  that  Kit  Carson  should  be  on  the  ground  in  case 
the  red  men  were  overtaken,  in  order  to  ascertain 


482       A  MERE  BOY,  AS  INDIAN  AGENT. 

we  remember  to  have  met  with  an  Indian  agent  who 
was,  both  in  years  and  experience,  but  a  mere  boy. 
To  him  had  been  entrusted  the  affairs  of  a  large  tribe, 
notorious  in  the  country  where  they  reside  as  being 
great  thieves.  These  Indians  had  so  little  respect  for 
their  agent,  that  they  would  openly  boast  of  the 
crimes  which  they  had  committed,  in  his  very  pres- 
ence. Not  only  this,  but,  on  horses  stolen  from  neigh- 
boring settlers,  they  would  ride  by  him,  thus  defying 
his  power.  The  settlers  were  loud  in  their  complaints 
against  the  Government  for  thus  neglecting  to  protect 
them,  and  sending  them  a  block  of  wood  for  a  king. 
The  young  man  of  whom  we  speak  bore  an  exemplary 
character,  but  it  was  plainly  and  painfully  apparent 
that  he  was,  in  no  way  whatever,  fitted  for  the  office 
he  held,  and  which  he  had  attained  through  the  influ- 
ence of  powerful  political  friends.  This  is  but  a  fair 
example  by  which  many  of  the  so-called  Indian  agents 
may  be  rated,  who  are  the  actual  managers  of  Indian 
affairs  on  our  frontiers. 

The  Utahs  and  the  Apaches,  having  now  openly 
combined,  met  with  such  success  in  their  endeavors  to 
attack  the  whites,  that,  during  the  course  of  a  few 
months,  they  overran  almost  the  entire  northern  part 
of  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico.  They  utterly  defied 
the  power  of  the  American  Government;  and,  when- 
ever the  opportunity  offered,  boasted  to  the  Mexicans 
"  that  they  no  longer  stood  in  fear  of  the  white  men." 
The  subsequent  cruel  and  barbarous  crimes  of  which 
they  were  guilty,  clearly  demonstrated  that  they  were 
elated  by  their  success.  It  soon  became  apparent  that, 
unless  checked,  they  would  exterminate  the  population 
and  burn  or  otherwise  destroy  their  settlements. 


508  AN   INDIAN   SCALP   DANCE. 

— that  is,  desperately  fighting  for  his  life,  and  never  for 
once  showing  fear,  they  take  two  scalps,  one  from  either 
side  of  the  head.  The  object  of  this  is,  to  have  scalp 
dances  for  each,  as  they  consider  such  a  man  as  deserv- 
ing the  fate  of  two  ordinary  men.  These  scalps  are 
often  stretched,  dried,  decorated  and  frequently  kept 
for  years  as  trophies.  The  more  scalps  a  warrior  takes, 
the  greater  favorite  he  becomes  with  his  tribe ;  and 
finally,  having  obtained  a  given  number,  he  is  consid- 
ered eligible  to  fill  the  office  of  War  Chief,  provided  he 
has  other  qualifications,  such  as  the  power  of  quickly 
conceiving  the  right  plan  on  which  to  act  in  case  of 
emergency.  When  a  party  of  Indians  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  have  been  on  a  war  trail,  met  the  enemy 
and  vanquished  them,  they  appoint  a  brave  who  is  hon- 
ored as  being  the  scalp-bearer.  This  warrior  carries  a 
long  pole,  to  which,  at  suitable  distances  from  each  other, 
the  scalps  are  attached.  When  the  party  returns  to, 
and  enters  their  own  village,  this  brave  is  the  observed 
of  all  observers.  Eagerly,  by  the  old  men,  women  and 
children,  these  bloody  trophies  are  counted,  for  each  of 
them  offers  an  occasion  for  rejoicing,  to  be  at  separate 
intervals  of  time.  They  are,  then,  each  synonymous 
with  the  phrase,  a  fete  day,  and  the  scalp-bearer  is 
looked  upon  with  the  same  jealous  eye  which  greets 
the  color-bearer  of  an  army,  after  having  been  engaged 
in  some  great  battle  which  has  proved  successful  to  his 
standard.  An  Indian  will  not  remove,  as  a  general 
thing,  a  scalp  which  contains  gray  hairs.  This  he  con- 
siders to  be  a  business  fit  only  for  women.  The  scalp 
which  is  to  cause  a  general  jubilee,  on  an  appointed 
evening,  is  attached  to  the  top  of  a  long  pole,  planted 
in  the.  earth  at  a  suitable  place.  The  warriors  who 


r'OKT  MASSACHUSETTS,  NEW  MEXICO,   IN  1855. 


548     VAKIED  AND  VALUABLE  EXPERIENCES. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

Carson  not  allowed  to  Remain  Idle — His  Position  in  our  late  Civil  War — 
He  is  Needed  on  an  Important  Field  of  Army  Operations — His  Love 
for  the  Union— His  Promise  to  Stand  by  the  Old  Flag— His  Fulfill- 
ment of  the  Promise — Is  Appointed  Colonel  of  the  First  New  Mexico 
Volunteers — His  Friendship  with  General  Canby — Lieutenant-Colonel 
Pfiefer — Valuable  Service  against  the  Camanches,  Arrapahoes  and 
Cheyennes — Overpowered  and  Defeated — Fearful  Loss — A  Brilliant 
Campaign  against  the  Navajoes — Increased  Fame — The  War  Depart- 
ment sound  his  Praises  in  Flattering  Terms — Brigadier  General  of 
Volunteers — Detailed  for  Responsible  Duty — Appointed  Peace  Com- 
missioner to  the  Sioux — A  Delicate  Mission — The  Indian  Policy  of  our 
Government — A  Reformation  Movement — A  Wise  and  Humane  Policy 
— Kit  Carson's  Opinion  as  to  what  Should  be  Done — His  Wonderful 
Success  in  Treating  with  the  Savages — Beloved  and  Feared — The  Visit 
of  Indian  Chiefs  to  Washington — The  Effects  of  Civilization — Recep- 
tions and  Speeches  of  Buffalo  Good  and  Little  Raven — The  Indian 
Question,  and  What  Has  Been  Done,  and  What  Must  Be  Done,  to  Se- 
cure Lasting  Peace — The  Death  of  General  Kit  Carson,  at  Fort  Lyon, 
Colorado — His  Death  Hastened  by  the  Loss  of  his  Wife — A  Man  of 
Striking  Virtues — Eat  Carson  as  a  Free  Mason — Masonic  Signs  among 
the  Indians. 

FOLLOWING  on  the  varied  and  valuable  experiences 
that  Kit  Carson  had,  in  his  strangely  eventful  career, 
prior  to  his  appointment  as  Indian  agent,  he  might  have 
treasured  the  hope  that  he  should  live  out  the  rest  of 
his  days  in  peace  and  quiet,  so  far  as  a  man  with  such 
surroundings  might  expect  repose.  With  him  rest 
would  not  be  the  absolute  calm  that  one  might  have  in 
a  settled,  law-abiding  community.  Indeed,  to  him,  that 
kind  of  repose  would  be  the  most  tiresome  of  all  ex- 


554  BRIGADIER    GENERAL    OF   VOLUNTEERS. 

breveted  with  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General  of  Volun- 
teers, and  entirely  without  any  solicitation.  The  cap- 
tured Indians  were  afterwards  sent  to  a  reservation  on 
one  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Arkansas  Biver,  and  later, 
following  General  Sherman's  Indian  negotiations,  they 
were  sent  by  their  own  request  to  their  original  grounds 
in  the  Navajo  country,  where  they  have  since  remained 
in  a  well-behaved  condition.  They  are  peaceful,  and  are 
gradually  becoming  accustomed  to  the  more  advanced 
wa}Ts  of  civilization.  They  are  measurably  indus- 
trious, and  to  a  considerable  extent  are  self-supporting. 
During  the  remainder  of  the  war,  General  Carson  was  on 
different  details  of  responsible  work,  mainly  courts  mar- 
tial and  matters  relating  to  the  Indians,  and  in  one  of 
which  he  made  himself  useful  to  the  Government.  The 
war  history  of  affairs  in  New  Mexico,  during  this  period, 
as  contained  in  official  reports,  will  show  that  his  services 
were  fully  recognized  by  the  department  whose  inter- 
ests he  served.  He  was  retained  in  his  rank  and  posi- 
tion at  the  close  of  the  war,  long  after  nearly  all  the 
volunteer  officers  had  been  mustered  out,  and  was  then 
made  a  peace  commissioner  to  visit  the  Sioux  and  other 
tribes,  his  long  experience,  honesty,  and  loyalty  to  the 
Government  qualifying  him  in  all  respects  for  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  such  a  delicate  mission. 

The  settlement  of  the  trouble  with  the  Sioux  Indians, 
which  was  assigned  to  General  Carson,  was  a  matter  of 
great  consequence,  more,  indeed,  than  appeared  upon 
the  surface  of  things  at  the  time.  Hostilities  had 
grown  out  of  bad  faith  in  the  first  place,  and  a  bloody 
war,  attended  with  frightful  massacres,  followed,  in- 
volving a  cost  of  millions  of  dollars  to  the  Government. 
Indian  wars  have  always  been  costly;  they  are  con- 


326  DOMESTIC  LIFE. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Kit  Carson  at  his  Home — The  Apache  Indians  become  Hostile — An  Ex- 
pedition sent  against  them — It  is  not  Successful — Another  is  organ- 
ized, with  which  Kit  Carson  goes  as  Guide — Two  Indian  Chiefs 
captured — Other  Incidents  of  the  Trip — Colonel  Beall  attempts  to  force 
the  Indians  to  give  up  Mexican  Captives — Two  Thousand  Savages  on 
the  Arkansas  River — The  Visit  to  them — Kit  Carson  emigrates  and 
builds  a  Ranche  at  Rayado — Description  of  the  Valley — The  Massa- 
cre of  a  Santa  Fe  Merchant — His  Wife  is  made  Prisoner — The  Expe- 
dition sent  to  rescue  her — The  Indians  overtaken — Bad  Counsel  and 
Management — The  Commanding  Officer  Wounded  —  Mrs.  White's 
Body  found — Severe  Snow  Storm  on  the  Plains — One  Man  frozen  to 
Death — Kit  Carson  returns  to  Rayado — The  Occupation  of  a  Farmer 
resumed — The  Apaches  steal  from  the  Settlers  nearly  all  of  their  Ani- 
mals—Kit Carson  with  thirteen  others  in  Pursuit — The  Surprise — A 
running  Fight — The  Animals  recovered — A  gallant  Sergeant  and  his 
Fate — Kit  Carson  and  Goodel  go  on  a  Trading  Expedition  to  meet 
California  Emigrants  at  Fort  Laramie — Humorous  Adventures — The 
Dangers  that  beset  the  Road  to  New  Mexico — Hair-breadth  Escape — 
Arrival  at  Taos. 

BEIXG  comfortably  housed  in  his  own  pleasant  home 
at  Taos,  Kit  Carson  made  up  his  mind  to  treat  himself 
to  a  more  lengthy  stay  there  than  he  had  for  some 
time  enjoyed.  While  he  was  quietly  enjoying  the 
pleasures  of  home,  active  operations  were  transpiring 
about  him,  for  the  neighboring  Indians  had  dug  up  the 
tomahawk  and  buried  the  calumet,  and  were  holding  in 
defiance  the  United  States  forces,  which  had  been  sta- 
tioned in  New  Mexico  to  protect  its  inhabitants.  Col- 
onel Beall  was  at  that  time  commanding  officer  of  the 
district,  and  had  established  his  head-quarters  at  Taos. 


472  A  FORMIDABLE    INDIAN   WAR. 


OHAPTEE  XVII. 

The  Commencement  of  a  Formidable  Indian  War — High-handed  Measures 
on  the  Part  of  the  Indians — The  Governor  of  New  Mexico  raises  Five 
Hundred  Mexican  Volunteers  and  places  them  under  the  Command  of 
Colonel  St.  Vrain — Colonel  Fauntleroy  placed  in  Command  of  all  the 
Forces — Kit  Carson  is  chosen  as  Chief  Guide — The  Campaign  Com- 
menced— The  Trail  Found — The  Indians  are  met  and  the  first  Fight 
and  its  Consequences — An  Excitement  in  Camp — The  Indians  again 
Overtaken — The  Return  to  Fort  Massachusetts — Intense  Cold  Weather 
experienced — The  Second  Campaign — Colonel  Fauntleroy  Surprises 
the  Main  Camp  of  the  Enemy — The  Scalp  Dance  Broken  Up — Terrible 
Slaughter  of  the  Indians — The  Great  Amount  of  Plunder  Taken  and 
Destroyed — Another  Small  Party  of  Indians  Surprised  and  Routed — 
St.  Vrain  equally  fortunate  in  his  Campaign — The  Indians  Sue  for 
Peace — The  Council  held  and  Treaties  signed — Kit  Carson  opposes 
the  making  of  them — The  poor  Protection  Indian  Treaties  usually 
afford  to  Settlers — Kit  Carson's  House  at  Taos  and  his  Indian  Friends 
— His  Attachment  for  his  Family  put  to  the  Test — Cowardice  of  a 
Mexican — Kit  Carson's  Friends  as  they  looked  upon  him — His  Influ- 
ence over  Indians. 

THE  Muache  band  of  Utahs,  under  their  renowned 
Chief,  Blanco,  after  trading  for  all  the  powder  and 
lead  which  they  required,  joined  the  Apaches  and  com- 
menced the  war  in  earnest.  They  waylaid  and  mur- 
dered travelers  on  the  roads,  attacked  towns,  killed  and 
made  prisoners  the  people  who  inhabited  them,  and 
became  so  formidable  that  for  a  length  of  time  every- 
thing was  at  their  mercy.  They  lost  no  opportunity 
in  showing  their  power  and  in  possessing  themselves 
of  the  finest  herds  of  horses,  mules,  cattle  and  sheep 
within  their  reach. 


578  CHARACTERISTICS    OF   THE  MODOCS. 

"It  is  difficult  even  to  approximate  the  probable 
number  of  this  people,  when  in  their  undisturbed  abor- 
iginal glory,  and  before  their  contact  with  the  superior 
civilization,  whose  vices,  only,  seem  to  be  attractive  to 
the  savage  nature.  Indians  have  no  Census  Bureau ; 
and,  indeed,  nearly  all  tribes  have  a  superstitious  aver- 
sion to  answering  any  questions  as  to  their  numbers. 
The  Modocs  are  like  all  others,  and,  when  questioned 
on  the  subject,  only  point  to  their  country,  and  say, 
that  <  once  it  was  full  of  people/  The  remains  of  their 
ancient  villages,  found  along  the  shores  of  the  lakes, 
on  the  streams,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  springs,  seems  to 
corroborate  this  statement ;  and  one  ranch  alone,  the 
remains  of  which  are  found  on  the  western  shore  of 
Little  Klamath  Lake,  must  have  contained  more  souls 
than  are  now  numbered  in  the  whole  Modoc  nation. 
Only  four  hundred,  by  official  count,  left  of  a  tribe 
that  must  have  numbered  thousands !  Some  of  the 
causes  of  the  immense  decrease  of  this  people  can  be 
traced  to  their  deadly  conflicts  with  the  early  settlers 
of  Northern  California  and  Southern  Oregon.  They 
were  in  open  and  uncompromising  hostility  to  the 
Whites,  stubbornly  resisting  the  passage  of -emigrant 
trains  through  their  country ;  and  the  bloody  atrocities 
of  these  Arabs  of  the  West  are  still  too  well  remem- 
bered. As  early  as  1847,  following  the  route  taken  by 
Fremont  the  previous  year,  a  large  portion  of  the  Ore- 
gon immigration  passed  through  the  heart  of  the  Modoc 
country.  From  the  moment  they  left  the  Pit  River 
Mountains,  their  travel  was  one  of  watchful  fear  and 
difficulty,  the  road  winding  through  dangerous  canons, 
and  passing  under  precipitous  cliffs  that  afforded  secure 
and  impenetrable  ambush.  Bands  of  mounted  war- 


A   TERRIBLE   REVENGE.  581 

stead  of  scalping  them,  he  took  them  to  his  camp, 
treated  them  kindly,  and  making  them  a  sort  of  Peace 
Commission,  sent  them  with  olive-branches,  in  the 
shape  of  calico  and  tobacco,  back  to  their  people.  Ne- 
gotiations for  a  general  council  to  arrange  a  treaty 
were  opened.  Others  visited  the  white  camp;  and 
soon  the  Modocs,  who  had  but  a  faint  appreciation  of 
the  tortuous  ways  of  white  diplomacy,  began  to  think 
that  Ben  was  a  very  harmless  and  respectable  gentle- 
man. A  spot  on  the  north  bank  of  Lost  River,  a  few 
hundred  yards  from  the  Natural  Bridge,  was  selected 
for  the  council.  On  the  appointed  day,  fifty-one  In- 
dians (about  equal  in  number  to  Wright's  company) 
attended,  and,  as  agreed  upon  by  both  parties,  no 
weapons  were  brought  to  the  ground.  A  number  of 
beeves  had  been  killed,  presents  were  distributed,  and 
the  day  passed  in  mutual  professions  of  friendship; 
when  Wright — whose  quick,  restless  eye  had  been 
busy  —  quietly  filled  his  pipe,  drew  a  match,  and  lit  it. 
This  was  the  pre-concerted  signal.  As  the  first  little 
curling  wreath  of  smoke  went  up,  fifty  revolvers  were 
drawn  from  their  places  of  concealment  by  Wright's 
men,  who  were  now  scattered  among  their  intended 
victims ;  a  few  moments  of  rapid  and  deadly  firing, 
and  only  two  of  the  Modocs  escaped  to  warn  their 
people ! 

"  In  1864,  when  old  Schonchin  buried  the  hatchet 
and  agreed  to  war  with  the  pale-faces  no  more,  he 
said,  mournfully:  'Once  my  people  were  like  the 
sands  along  yon  shore.  Now  I  call  to  them,  and  only 
the  wind  answers.  Four  hundred  strong  young  men 
went  with  me  to  the  war  with  the  whites ;  only  eighty 
are  left.  We  will  be  good,  if  the  white  man  will  let 


LO  !   THE  POOR  INDIAN." 


UNFRIENDLY   TO    THE   WHITES.  585 

spirit  of  the  majority  of  the  tribe  is  broken ;  they  are 
content  to  be  cooped  up  within  the  limits  of  a  reserva- 
tion in  a  country  where  once  they  were  lords,  and  the 
superior  race  claims  their  former  possessions  by  the 
right  of  might.  They  are  part  and  parcel  of  that  un- 
solved problem  —  the  Red  race,  created  by  the  same 
Power  as  we,  for  God's  own  purposes.  Like  the  rest 
of  the  red  people,  they  are  destined  to  speedy  extinc- 
tion; and  the  last  of  the  Modocs,  powerful  as  they 
have  been,  will  probably  be  seen  by  the  present  gen- 
eration of  white  men." 

The  tribe  of  Modocs  have  always  been  unfriendly  and 
opposed  to  the  whites.  It  first  entered  into  formal 
relations  with  the  Government  by  a  treaty  to  which 
the  Klamaths  and  Yabooskin  band  of  Snakes  were  also 
parties;  made  in  October,  1864,  and  ratified  by  the 
Senate,  with  certain  verbal  amendments,  in  July,  1866 ; 
and  after  the  Indians  had  consented  to  these  amend- 
ments, in  December,  1869,  proclaimed  by  the  Presi- 
dent in  1870.  Under  the  provisions  of  Article  1  of  this 
treaty,  and  of  the  Executive  order  of  March  14,  1871, 
issued  thereunder,  a  tract  of  land,  estimated  to  contain 
seven  hundred  and  sixty-eight  thousand  acres,  was  set 
apart  for  the  Indians, — parties  to  the  treaty, — in  the 
southern  part  of  Oregon.  In  1865,  while  this  treaty 
was  pending  before  the  Senate,  Mr.  Lindsley  Apple- 
gate,  sub-agent  in  charge  of  the  Klamaths  and  Snakes, 
commenced  operations  for  their  benefit. 

The  Modocs,  presumedly  acting  under  the  advice  of 
certain  interested  whites,  had  previously  withdrawn 
from  the  country  to  their  former  home,  near  Clear 
Lake,  sixty  miles  south-east  of  Klamath.  They,  how- 
ever, informed  Mr.  Applegate,  by  messenger,  that  they 


LOYED   AND   RESPECTED.  597 

attended  to  and  carried  back  for  medical  treatment. 
Fifty  yards  further  was  the  body  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Thomas,  lying  on  his  face  and  stripped  to  the  waist. 
Life  was  extinct  from  pistol-shot  wounds  in  his  head. 

The  body  of  General  Canby,  the  hero  of  many  a 
fight,  was  stripped  of  every  vestige  of  clothing,  and 
lay  about  one  hundred  yards  to  the  south-west,  with 
two  pistol-shot  wounds  in  the  head.  Pausing  only  to 
cast  a  glance  on  the  body  of  the  man  they  both  loved 
and  respected,  the  troops  dashed  on,  and  the  two  lead- 
ing batteries  were  within  a  mile  of  the  murderers  when 
the  bugle  sounded  a  "  halt."  Lieutenant  Eagan  and 
Major  Wright's  companies  of  the  Twelfth  Infantry 
were  behind  the  artillery,  and  then  came  the  cavalry. 
General  Gillem  and  Colonel  Green  and  staff  were  up 
with  the  men,  but  as  soon  as  they  found  that  the  In- 
dians had  all  got  back  to  their  stronghold,  the  troops 
were  ordered  to  fall  back. 

The  murder  of  General  Canby  cast  a  gloom  over 
the  whole  country.  No  officer  was  more  universally 
respected  and  esteemed.  He  was  a  true  Christian  and 
brave  soldier,  and  died  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty. 
For  the  past  few  days  he  had  clothed  and  fed  these 
Indians — giving  them  blankets,  food  and  tobacco. 
When  the  squaws  came  into  camp,  they  rushed  to 
General  Canby,  and  went  back  laden  with  provisions 
and  calico.  Yet  the  first  to  fall  was  their  kindest 
and  noblest  benefactor. 

General  Canby  was  one  of  the  best  educated  and 
most  highly  esteemed  of  all  the  officers  in  the  regular 
army.  He  served  with  great  distinction  during  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  held  several  very  important 
commands. 


A  TERRIFIC  SNOW-STORM. 


INDIAN   SCALP  DANCE. 


KIT  CARSON'S  HOME  AT  TAGS,   NEW  MEXICO. 


CAPTAIN    J  A  C  K . 


L  M 


THIS      OIKOTJI^A.11      THROUGH 

A  Valuable  and  Intensely  Interesting  New  Book, 


OF   AMERICA'S 


S 


KIT  CARSON 

The  Nestor  of  the  Hocky  Mountains, 

mw 

By  his  Comrade  and  Friend, 

DE  WITT  C.  PETERS,  Brevet  Lt.  Colonel  and  Surgeon,  U.  S.  A.  I 


1 

1 


The  Only  True  and  Authentic  Life  and  Adventures  of 
this  Renowned  Man,  ever  -written, 

as   the   following  testimonials   will  show: 


Mexico. 

Tills  is  to  certify  that  my  friend,  De  Witt  C.  Peters,  Brevet  Lieut. 
Colonel  and  Surgeon,  U.  S.  A.,  is  the  only  person  I  ever  authorized  to 
write  my  life. 


Briqadier  General  U.  S.    Vols. 


FEKNANDEZ  DE  TAGS,  NEW  MEXICO. 
SIR  : 

We,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico,  have  been  acquainted  with 
Mr.  CHRISTOPHER  CARSON  almost  from  the  time  of  his  first  arrival  in  the  country.  We  have  been 
companions  both  in  the  mountains  and  as  a  private  citizen.  We  are  also  acquainted  with  the  fact,  that 
for  months,  during  his  leisure  hours,  he  was  engaged  dictating  his  life.  This  is,  to  our  certain 
knowledge,  the  only  authentic  biography  of  himself  and  his  travels  that  has  ever  been  written.  We 
heartily  recommend  THIS  BOOK  to  the  reading  community  for  perusal,  as  it  presents  a  life  out  of  the 
usual  routine  of  business,  and  is  checkered  with  adventures  which  have  tried  this  bold  and  daring 
man.  We  are  cognizant  of  the  details  of  the  book,  arid  vouch  for  their  accuracy. 
Very  respectfully, 


The  name  Of  Kit  Car§OH9  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  has  been  familiarly 
known  for  more  than  forty  years,  and  from  its  association  with  the  names  of  great 
explorers  and  military  men,  is  now  spread  throughout  the  civilized  world.  It  has 
been  generally  conceded,  that  no  small  share  of  the  benefits  derived  by  these  explora- 
tions and  campaigns,  \\as  due  to  the  sagacity,  skill,  experience,  advice,  and 
labor  of  CHRISTOPHER  CARSON.  His  sober  habits,  strict  honor,  and  great 
regard  for  the  truth,  endeared  him  to  all  that  called  him  friend  ;  and  among  such,  may 
be  enumerated  names  belonging  to  some  of  the  most  distinguished  men,  whose  deeds 
are  recorded  on  the  pages  of  American  History.  His  life  was  a  mystery  which  this 
book  will  unveil.  Instead  of  KIT  CARSON,  as  by  imagination — a  bold  braggart,  and 
reckless  improvident  hero  of  the  rifle — he  will  appear  a  retired  man,  and  one  who 
was  reserved  in  his  intercourse  with  others,  and  one  to  whom  it  needed  not  a  second 
introduction,  or  a  friendly  panegyric,  to  enable  one  to  discover  those  traits  of  man- 
hood which  are  esteemed  by  the  great  and  good,  to  be  distinguishing  ornaments 
of  character. 

In  olden  times  there  existed  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  a  race  of  men  familiarly 
known  as  "  HUNTERS  AND  TRAPPERS."  They  are  now  almost  extinct.  Their  history 
has  never  been  fully  and  accurately  written.  This  volume,  now  offered  to  the  public, 
gives  their  history  as  related  by  one  whose  name  as  a  Hunter,  Trapper,  Indian 
Fighter,  and  Guide,  stood  second  to  none  ;  by  a  man  who  for  fifteen  years  saw  not 
the  face  of  a  white  woman,  or  slept  under  a  roof.  On  account  of  their  originality, 
daring,  and  absorbing  interest,  the  real  facts  concerning  this  brave  race  of  hunters  and 
trappers,  will  be  handed  down  to  posterity  as  matters  belonging  to  history. 

While  the  country  was  being  flooded  with  "  yellow-covered  literature,"  purporting 
to  be  "  Lives  of  Carson,"  but  which  were  merely  imaginary  pen-paintings,  founded, 
perhaps,  upon  distant  reports  of  his  almost  incredulous  exploits  and  adventures,  the 
intimate  friends  of  KIT  CARSON,  in  common  with  thousands  of  others,  desired  to  see 
something  published,  which  they  could  be  assured  was  a  TRUE  and  AUTHENTIC  account 
of  his  singularly  exciting  and  wonderful  life  and  adventures ;  but  it  was  only  upon 
the  constant  and  urgent  solicitations  of  personal  friends  that  CARSON  could  be  induced 
to  dictate  the  facts  upon  which  this  book  is  written,  and  only  then  upon  the  express 
condition  that  Dr.  Peters,  his  friend — his  companion  at  home — in  the  wild  scenes  of 
the  chase — on  the  war-path,  and  upon  the  field  of  battle — would  put  them  into  con- 
venient form,  adding  such  information  as  had  fallen  under  his  observation,  during  ex- 
tensive travels  over  the  wide  expanse  of  territory  which  had  been  KIT  CARSON'S 
theatre  of  action,  as  would  make  it  a  book  to  be  valued  and  sought  for. 

Although  unfortunately  delayed,  Dr  Peters  has  done  his  work  faithfully,  and  the 
publishers  take  pleasure  in  presenting  it  to  the  public,  feeling  assured  that  it  will  be 
truly  appreciated,  and  will  meet  with  an  unprecedented  sale. 


IT  IS  A  BOOK  OF  SOLID  TKUTH, 

FROM   FACTS   WAKRATSEI)  BY   IOT   CARSOW   HIMSELF. 

It  abounds  in  Thrilling  Incidents  and  Adventures ;   Tragic  Scenes ;  Wonderful 

Escapes ;  Deeds  of  Daring ;  Ludicrous  Occurrences ;  and  Instances  of  Hero- 
ism, Devotion,  and  Self-sacrifice?  which  have  no  parallel  in  history, 

It  tells  of  KIT  CARSON'S  adventures  with  the  Indians,  with  the  Mexicans, 
of  hair-breadth  escapes — of  fights  with  grizzly  bears — of  hunting  the  buffalo,  and 
of  trapping  the  beaver. 

It  gives  a  full  and  complete  account  of  the  every  day  life,  inner  character,  and 
peculiar  customs  of  all  the  tribes  of  Indians  inhabiting  the  Far  West,  with  whom 
KIT  CARSON  was  intimate,  among  whom  were  the  Sioux,  BLACKFEET,  CAMANCHE, 
APACHE,  ARRAPAHOE,  CHEYENNE,  KIOWA,  KLAMATH,  MODOC,  and  many  others. 

It  Shows  the  savage  Warrior  stripped  of  all  the  decorations  with 
which  writers  of  fiction  have  clothed  him.  In  it  he  is  seen  in  his  ferocity  and 
gentleness,  in  his  rascality  and  nobility,  in  his  boyhood,  manhood,  and  old  age,  and  in 
his  wisdom  and  ignorance. 

It  gives  a  full,  complete  history  of  the  Modoc  Indians — of  the  late  war,  and 
of  CAPT.  JACK,  SHACKNASTY  JIM,  BOGUS  CHARLIE,  and  other  Modoc  warriors. 

It  tells  of  KIT  CARSON  as  Indian  Agent — of  his  wonderful  skill  as  an  Indian 
Fighter — as  the  red  man's  best  friend  in  time  of  peace,  and  worst  enemy  in  time  of  war. 

It  liaifolds  for  aSI?  as  does  no  other  work,  the  great  interior  wilderness 
of  the  United  States,  giving  accurate  descriptions  of  MOUNTAINS,  VALLEYS,  DESERTS, 
PLAINS,  and  RIVERS,  and  portraying  a  part  of  the  North  American  Continent  unsur- 
passed by  any  other  country  in  the  world,  in  scenic  beauty  and  grandeur. 

It  tells  of  the  great  exploring  expeditions  of  Fremont,  in  which  KIT  CARSON 
was  the  trusted  guide  and  adviser,  and,  as  a  work  of  HISTORY,  is  invaluable. 

It  tells  of  the  terrible  suffering  the  trappers  were  often  subjected  to,  during  which 
they  were  obliged  to  bleed  their  mules  and  drink  the  warm  blood ;  during  which 
they  were  obliged  to  kill  their  horses  and  mules,  and  eat  the  flesh ;  during  which 
they  were  forced  to  dig  and  eat  roots,  to  sustain  life. 

It  tells  of  agriculture  and  farming,  of  stock  raising — of  the  growth  and  extent 
of  grain  raising,  details  of  harvesting,  &c.,  in  that  country  once  the  hunting- 
ground  and  battle-field  of  Indian  and  Trapper. 

It  tells  of  Mexico — its  inhabitants,  their  manners  and  customs,  &c. — of  the 
fandango — of  bull-fights — of  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  in 
which  KIT  CARSON  took  an  active  and  honorable  part. 

It  tells  of  the  wonderful  deeds  of  daring  by  which  KIT  CARSON,  as  a  soldier 
of  the  REPUBLIC,  won  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General  U.  S.  Vols. 

IN  FACT,  THIS  WORK  ABOUNDS 

In  scenes  of  adventure  and  danger  to  which  it  is  impossible  to  find  a  parallel  in  the 
annals  of  history  ;  cruelty  at  which  the  heart  sickens  ;  vindictiveness  which  knows  no 
end,  and  no  mitigation;  skill,  ingenuity,  and  endurance,  during  the  long,  dangerous, 
and  weary  explorations  in  a  new  and  desolate  country  ;  heroism,  gratitude  to  friends, 
treachery  towards  enemies;  stoicism,  keen  observation,  the  most  delicate  sense 
of  honor ;  history,  manners,  customs  and  descriptions,  are  all  to  be  found  in  these 
fascinating  pages. 

THE  MECHANICAL  EXECUTION  OF  THE  BOOK  is  beyond  praise,  the  THIRTY-FOUR  superu 
illustrations  being  remarkable  for  their  accuracy.  The  paper  is  of  the  best  quality, 
the  printing  absolutely  perfect,  and  binding  first-class.  All  possible  pains  has  been 
taken  to  produce  the  handsomest  volume  extant. 

This  work  is  printed  from  new  electrotype  plates,  will  contain  over  GOO  royal 
octavo  pages,  and  will  be  furnished  as  follows  : 

In  Green  English  Morocco  dolt,  wltt  Handsome  Design  in  Black  and  Gold,  $s.oo 

In  Leate,  Library  Style, 3.50 

In  Morocco  Clott,  Paneled  Sides,  Gilt  Edges,  (Parlor  Edition.) ,  ,  .  ,   ,  *.oo 

£ir  AGENTS  WANTED  IN  EVERY   TOWNSHIP.JST 


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